by death they are blessed and rest from their labors Why doo you mourne this life is a vapour by death for a vapour they possesse an heauenlie and euer during inheritance Why doo you mourne doo you not thinke that heauen is better than earth that the companie of angels archangels Patriarkes Prophete◠Apostles Martyrs Confessors Virgines and the holy ones of God is better than the felowship of men and the company of beastes Doo you not beleeue that ioye is better than sorrowe that life eternal is better than this short vaine and vile life that it is better to see God face to face to follow the lambe Iesus in heauen in fulnesse of ioy to possesse him at his Heauenlie table to banket with father Abraham Isaac Iacob than to dwel with you all our fare in this worlde is dung in respect of the heauenlie meat which Christ dooth set before them that are passed by death to life and why then doo you mourne Mourne not for them for they are happie happie and thrise happy are they But as I say mourn for your selues that be not so luckie as they to bee taken from this vale of myserie to the storehouse of felicitie as they are For by deathe they are not dead but by death they are passed to life to suche a life as passeth all vnderstanding the ioyes wherof doe surmount the conceipt thoght not onely of man but also angels and Archangels But miserable are you which doo yet carrye about you this earthie Tabernacle yea euen in this one thing you are miserable vnlesse you repent that you mourne for the deathe of your friends or children For in that you denie the will of God to be iuste for that hee hath made man of earth earthy and mortal Mourne for this your vnbeleefe mourne for this your sin weepe for the sinnes of your youth for your secret sinnes and desire God to wipe and to wash your soule from all infection of sinne that being prepared by death to follow your friends and children you may with willing hearts in a liuelie faith giue a farewell vnto this worlde and be readie to marrie Christ Iesus in glorie to whome bee all glorie Amen A battel betweene the Diuel and the Conscience Wherein all true Christians are taught how to oppose and set them selues against the assaults of their Archaduersary Satan made in forme of a dialog by the sayde E. H. Satan THou arte a Sinner and therefore the child of wrath Conscience I am a sinner Satan I confes it that in mee that is in my fleshe dwelleth no good thing which may mooue my Lorde to take pitie vpon me but yet I denie thy consequent For though I bee a sinner yet shall not my sinnes preuaile against me For behold saith Iohn The lambe of God hath taken awaye the sinnes of the worlde hee hath condemned sinne in the flesh so that now there is no condēnation to them that are in Christ Iesus Satan I grant that there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ but suche are in Christ which walke not after the flesh as thou dooest continuallie boording vp trespasse vpon trespasse against the daie of iudgement Conscience Thou liest Satan I walke not after the fleshe but with Paule I wil the thing that is good though I bee not able to perfourme it by reason of that combat which is between the flesh and the spirit Indeed at the least I sinne seuen times a daie but notwithstanding auoid Satan for Iohn telleth mee that if anie manne sinne wee haue an aduocate with the Father Iesus Christe the righteous and he is the propitiation for the sinnes of the world Sat. But how knowest thou that he wil be thine aduocate For hee is a righteous mediatour and therefore he will not deal for thee 〈◊〉 most miserable sinner Con. I knowe it Satan that hee wil be mine aduocate For so his holie worde preacheth vnto me which is the word of Christe the euerlasting truth which I by his grace wil neuer misdoubt And heerein thou shewest what thou hast beene euen from the beginning a lier For Iohn telleth mee that If anie man sinne yet there is an aduocate and a righteous aduocate euen Iesus Christe the righteous Sat. Yea but how darest thou looke vp to heauen and fly to this aduocate thou beeing a vile sinner and hee a righteous God Con. In a ful faith of his mercie Satan I dare goe to him For hee crieth to all laden and labouring Christians Come vnto me And why then shuld I feare to goe vnto him especiallie since he hath promised to refresh mee If I come vnto him Sat. Thou maiest goe vnto him but thou shalt find him a iudge For he wil neuer refresh thee with mercie but punish thee with deserued iudgement and reward thee according to thy deserts Con. Auoid Satan for thou liest I will go to him in assurance of his mercie for hee is truth and cannot faile in his promise Hee will indeede reward me according to my deserts but what deserts Christ his deserts are my deserts hee by his deathe deserued life for mee and al the world not for himselfe but for vs according to the saying of Peter He bare our sinnes in his bodie And therefore sith Christ by his ful obedience hath deserued lyfe my desert in him is life And therefore will I dare to go vnto my Lord and my God for I am sure of mercie Sat. I am the prince of darknesse and al sinners belong to my kingdome For the reward of sinne is death and therefore assure not thy selfe of mercye for that is in vaine Con. Auoid Satan For what though thou bee the prince of darkenesse yet doo I set thee at naught I am a sinner but what of that Satan my sinnes haue lost their stinge and so mayest thou gape for a prey and goe without a reward For in the bloud of Iesus Christ am I purged from my sinnes yea from all my sinnes the sinnes of my childhood my youth my olde age commytted in thought worde or deede whatsoeuer they haue bene are or shal be they are drowned in the bottom of the sea and so couered in mercie that the Lorde will neuer remember them Sat. Thou liest conscience For the Lord is iust and therefore hee will remember them that he may punish them Con. The Lord is righteous thou fowle diuel iust and true are all his waies but yet thou lyest in thy consequent for it standeth not with his iustice to remember our sinnes that hee may punish vs whose sins he hath punished in his sonne Christ. Christe Iesus by his death hath deliuered vs out of debt to the wrath of his heauenlie Father and purchased vs remission of sins And therefore I am sure that as God is iust so he will not remember my sinnes to punishe them in me againe sith his sonne hath paid his debt for mee For it is againste iustice that any debt should be twise
of thy maiestrates whom thou hast appointed as gods vnder thee to keepe thy garden clene from all noisome and stinking hearbs Clense them O Lord and plant a new spirite within them that aboue all things fauouring thy Gospel they may bend al their endeuours to the dâ—erishing of thy holy Church and maintenance of the truth without the which no maÌ„ shal liue and see thee Giue them grace to labour diligentlye in thy vineyard to mowe downe the haruest of sinne nei 〈…〉 er for feare or flatterie to starte backe from their dutie but without all discouragement to vse thy will as an axe to cutte downe the roote that withereth and beareth nothing but a perished stocke and barrayn branches that the ded boughs of iniquitie beeing broken off the branches of thy sonne Iesus may without let or hinderance spread foorth the sweete leaues of thy sauourie grace and beare in hart the frutes of thankesgiuing which is pleasant acceptable in thy sight Amen A generall confession of sinnes FAther ADAM O Lorde gaue the first onset none of vs his children haue broken the arraie The serpent counselled Eue gaue the apple to Adam so both sinned against thy diuine maiestie As for vs the naturall branches of this rotten stocke one of the same stampe shall speak We are borne in sinne and conceiued in iniquitie so that wee be damned by merit before we be borne But yet ô Lorde wee conâ—eâ—â—e it to our comfort and thy glorie that thou hast concluded all vnder sinne that thou mightest haue mercie on all and al glorie be giuen to thee We confes our selues lost wee are lost grotes and lost sheepe but this is the sole ioy of our hearts that thy sonne came to seeke to saue that was loste So that though we be lost in our selues yet we are founde in thy sonne who came into this worlde to sâ—ue sinners This is thy vnde◠〈…〉 ued goodnes O Lord to loue thine enimies to saue vs that haue euen from the womb rebelled againste thy diuine Maiestie euen before we were borne to saue vs by the death of thine onelie begotten son and to prepare a ioyous kingdome for vs before the beginning of y e world Therefore O Lorde what shall we crie but shame shame vpon vs an axe to the roote and an axe to vs all the withered branches of rotten Adam by desert For glorie and power dominion and Maiestie saluation and mercie is onelie thine and of thee of the which mercie saue vs we beseeth thee Amen Another WE are all publicans O Lorde open the eares of thy fauour vnto our crie and haue mercie vppon vs haue mercie vppon vs. We sinne dailie but yet saue vs of thy pittie saue vs oh saue vs and shewe thy compassion vppon vs. Let vs not die a Iudas death let vs neuer tune the doleful song of Cain but ingraue in our hart a full liuely faith in thee that neuer doubting of thy bountious mercie wee may with a free conscience set Satan at defiance and all his hellyshe bande Pittifull Iesu heare this our crie and fense vs with thy grace against the gaping deuil who roreth of crueltie and lurketh in euerye Corner of malicious subtiltie to trap and to snare to take and to teare vs with the Clawes of his furie and mercilesse enuie Fence vs with faith againste him O Lord laie the plaister of comfort to our wounded consciences couer vs with the wings of thy fauour that we may liue and die in thee and so be blessed Amen A praier for humi 〈…〉 ie IT is thine owne Leslon O Sauiour Iesus Be humble and meek as I am it is thy worde also My sheep heare my voice But Lorde what shall I doo the fleshe is proude I dailie rebell against thy holie wil I enuie my superiours I loue not mine equals I despise mine inferiours This is the frute of the flesh O Lord Death death but thou art loue and life O louing Iesus And therefore I beseech thee of thy tender loue to pitie me to indue me with the spirit of humblenes that being poore in spirit I may with the little ones of thy kingdome be blessed liue for euer O Lorde for the auoidance of pride giue mee thy grace to consider that by it an Angell became a diuel and man was excommunicate from the paradise of pleasure Desire of souereigntie begate the diuell sinne death damnation so that out of it as a moste filthie puddle issued a whole sea of mischeefe and miserie Of this cup of pride father Adam dranke when by his disobedience hee loste thy fauour and by the taste of an apple thought to bee thy comate in knowing of good and euill Giue me thy grace not onlie to consider this but also fully to digest it that detesting it as a venemous viper I may in humblenes of hart serue thee holilie and soundelie without hypocrisie who art a patterne of lowlines and a mirrour of humilitie continuallie to bee looked vpon and trulie to be followed O life and louer of soules giue mee grace alwaies to heare hearing thy words to follow thee Amen Another for charitie O Infinite charitie thou sonne of God to whom the father hath surrendred all power in heauen and earth I haue offended thee most greeuously indaÌ„gered my selfe desperatlie For charitie O charity thou shalt iudge the world in equitie I haue not charity biding within me I loue for gaine I hate mine enimies I pray not for theÌ„ that cursse and speake euil of me I haue enough of thy benefites and yet haue I spared nothing for Lazarus and therein I haue sinned against thee ô eternall charitie incurred the perill of thy iust iudgmentes Is there no remedy O charity but must iudgment be giueÌ„ against me is al thy bloud spent are al thy teares drie hast thou none to wash mee Correct me not O charitie in thy iudgment or furie neither chastise me in thine anger but deale with me acor ding to thy wonted mercie In charity in thy loue vnmerited O blessed Charity haue mercy vpon me quit me from a repliyng conscience the court of the Deuil For else ô charity wil mine own life reclaime against me craue damnation for mine vncharitable conuersation Piteous God therefore I beseech thee for thy bloudie sweat in thy bottomles pittie drown my transgressions adopt me thy brother giue me thy holie spirits testimonie as a gage and earnest of mine adoption that being freed from sinne I may serue thee with a free conscience in hope and an vnwauering faith in thy mercies Amen A praier for the mortification of the flesh O Lorde the kingdome of the flesh is verie strong so strong that I am not able to withstand it For in me that is in my fleshe dwelleth no good thing and so infectious is the palsie of the fraile flesh that vnlesse thou O Lord doe season it there is no waie but to incur
mercie vpon me and giue me thy grace not onelie to be thankefull for this thy gratious gift but also dutifull to vse it after thy good will and pleasure It is thy wil O father of Heauen that chyldren shoulde come vnto thee yea that all men shoulde be saued and come to the knowledge of the truth Fil the cup of thy mercie O Lorde and let mee drinke of it and my children pledge me that we may together bee wrapped in the garment of Grace and at length be married vnto thee into the kingdome of glorie Take my tender babes O Lord into thy familie that as children of thy house together with me they may sit with father Abraham Isaac and Iacob at the table of ioy in ioy vnspeakeable and in pleasure inconceiueable Giue them the spirite of thy fauour that they may crie truelie vnto thee Abba Father assured in their consciences that they are thy children and coheires with our Sauiour Iesus of life eternall O father shew thy mercy for thy mercies sake Amen The Childs praier IAm borne a naturall child O father of Heauen weake in bodie blinde in soule in all parts maimed and as it were lapt in bands of myserie O Lord renew mee wholie make me a babe of thy familie that I may suck the paps of thy word which is of power to saue bodie and soule Lop the tree of nature O gratious God and restraine me within the banks of thy wil by the bri dle of thy spirite that I neuer passing the limites of thy good pleasure may of thy mercie be taken as worthy to sit with father Abraham in the restefull lande of Canaan Regenerate me O Lorde and make mee a new creature that hauing put off the olde manne I may bee transformed into thee the second Adam in newnes of life and be freed from albruntes of storming nature blowes of tyrannous Satan that I maie sleepe in the lap of thy Church in safetie for euer O sweet Iesu let no tempest of sinne or thunderboult of Satan or hys mynisters ouerturne mee thy poore Creature sayling vpon the foming seas beset and bea ten with the surges of this present worlde but gard me with thine hand and let thine holie Angels pitch their tents about me least the brickle barke of my bodie being broozed with the waues of wickednesse and the shippe of my soule shaken with the tempests of iniquitie I vtterlie come to naught and become a castaway In al dangers therefore giue me grace to crie vnto thee with a lowde voice Helpe mee thou that canst stil the roughnesse of the sea or else I perish Amen The Husbandmans praier IA pore husbandman O lord GOD doo come vnto thee for succour Iesus thou sonne of Dauid haue mercie vppon mee Thou art the true vine and GOD thy father the husbandman and a braunche ingraffed in thee by grace and nourished by the iuice of mercie O Lord when the pock of my corrupt nature breaketh out and the wild Oliue sheweth it selfe then of thy fauour lop and crop mee purge mee that I may budde in thee and beare fruite worthie repentance Giue me thy grace that I tie not my hart to this world nor locke my thoughts in the chaine of vanitie but free me from the slauerie of the diuell and vnlose the desperate knot of my sinneful conscience that sinne beeing disiointed by remission and my conscience vn linked from sinne I may serue thee in holines and righteousnesse all the daies of my life Aide mee O father of heauen when the branch of sinne will ouerwantonlie flourish old Adam passe the limits of thy holie will Doo this O father and onely good husbandman for thine owne sake Amen The Maydseruants praier AL estates O Lorde depend vpon thee Kinge and begger Magistrate Clergieman maister and scholler al come of thee And me thou hast made a poore handmaid which I do not only willinglie beare as knowing thou haste allotted mee this calling but also very many waies I haue to thank thee for it For thou hast not onely deliuered me from the slauish seruice of Satan but also dooest by this my yoke restraine the wanton reliques of stained nature preserued me from the pampering of the old man in pleasure and idlenesse Secondlie that I am not seruaunt to any Heathen Turke or Saracen but vnto a Christian in suche a place where thy Gospel is preached freely and fullie Thirdlie and speciallie because thou hast called me vnto such an estate of life as wherein I knowe I doo well please thee For who liueth after thy Gospell if not I whoe get my liuing with the sweate of my browes I doo not glory heere in vaine but to thee bee the glorie who hast turned the cursse into such a blessing O Lord giue me grace to consider this that I may bee more diligent in my calling more earnest in seruing thee than euer I haue beene heeretofore Forgiue me al that is past and guide me in thinges to come that I may neuer haulte in my vocation Giue mee a sounde and perfect faith in thy sonnes blood O father wherin he hath washed of his great mercie my poore soule that notwithstanding I serue a mortal man yet aboue him in all thinges I may serue thee to whome be all glorie both nowe and for euer Amen A praier for a woman with child IN the beginning of the world O father of heauen after thou hadst formed man of the slime of the earth and yet prince ouer all creatures it pleased thee of thy goodnes to create a woman of his side as well for his solace as for the continuance of his seede It was thy worde vnto them Increase and multiply This increase was easie but mother Eue hath made it hard by passing the bounds of thy wil to al her posteritie so that the woman conceiueth and bringeth foorth in great paine and dangerous trauel the fruit of her wombe in so greate paine O Lord in such extreme pangs that vnles thou quench the flame of her sorrowes with the water of comfort it is impossible for her to beare that into this vale of miserie which thou of thy goodnesse hast fra med she conceiued Wherfore thou GOD of woonders and Father almightie of Heauen as thou hast by the slaugh ter of thine only lambe taken awaie the sinnes of the whole worlde and condemned sinne in the fleshe so take awaie the pangs of childbirth the fruit of sinne from all womankind especially this woman that bearing ioy fullie that which shee hath conceiued fruitfullie and thou hast fashioned gratiously shee maye glorifie thee most carefully and praise thee most thankefully the onely staie of hir estate in al extremitie both now at this present and hereafter euerlastingly Amen A praier for a woman in trauell LOrde saue mee or else I perish Lord haue mercie vpon me a sinner Pitiful Iesu shew thy mercy vnto me and let the light of thy countenance shine vppon me that I be
all messengers welcome art thou Adue vile life farewell life sinneful life adue and welcome death the purseuant of my louing Sauiour for by thee my miserie shall end From war to peace from this stormie worlde into the calme countrie of heauen from gronings and sobbings from this vale of fighings to the pallace of ioy from earth to heauen from sinfull men wild beasts to beloued friendes by death I shall passe to life to haue the companie of holie Patriarkes and blessed Saints to haue the sight of the glorious Trinitie to haue and inherit such ioye as neither eie hath seene nor eare heard nor hart euer conceiued By death I shal haue libertie without imprisonment health without sicknesse ioye without sorrow plesure without paine in such securitie eternitie and perpetuitie as passeth all thoughtes The holie ones of GOD my father the blessed Aungels and Archangels they haue atteined it but neuer can they sufficientlie esteeme of it So that O death thou art welcome welcome sicknes for my Lord Iesus hath new sent thee to fetch me from this prison to his palace from a strange contrie to my home from this place of teares and mourning to the daie of marriage sweet Iesus to marry thee in thy mercies for euer Heare deerely beloued heare and reioyse with me Sicknes is com death is in comming as a purseuant from my louing Iesus to cite me to appeare before him that he may appoint me a man sion in his fathers house to sit with him at the table of ioy for euer O the great ioy and onlie ioy of a Christian Nowe I shall lie noe more in this prison nowe I shall haue Paules wish for I shall bee deliuered from this bodie of sinne now shal I depart in peace with Simeon to haue that peace that passeth all vnderstanding and surmounteth al thought Now now shall I see the amiable tabernacles of my Lorde nowe shall I enter the courtes of my God where one daye is better than a thousande else-where now shal I be a doorekeeper in the house of mine heauenlie father now shal I appeare before the presence of God now doth his kingdome come now Lord Iesus now thou cōmest to carrie my soule into ioy Into thy hands therefore I cōmit my spirite Beloued brethren this is my testamente which I leaue vnto you it offereth great ioye and no matter of Teares Shead therefore no teares for better is the daye of death than the daye of birth I entered my life with a crye it coste my mother payne and teares to beare mee but yet it cost my louing Iesus his bloud to saue mee you and all the world Enuy not therefore my luckines that now I shall passe from you out of this vale of teares vnto him who died that I with him mighte liue in ioye for euer If you will mourne mourne for your owne sinnes mourne for your selues that you shal not so soone sup with God my father as I shall doo mourne not for me for you shall shortly follow me and lose me but for a time when you shall see in heauen for euer For blessed are the dead that die in y e Lord whose name for euer bee glorified Amen A praier for the rich man THou art the Welspring of all good thinges O louinge Lorde thou art the riche store house and cheste of mercie for al naked Adamites O Loue inestimable Wee are born into this Vale of miserie not only wicked in soule but euen also naked in body a deserued entraunce for vs by father Adam through desire of souereigntie but an vndeserued thing it is O good GOD that notwithstanding our merited pouertie deserued nakednesse by rebellion against thy Maiestie thou shouldest thus cloath me with thy benefites with plentie against penurie with friendship against enimitie with health against sickenesse with store against needinesse This O Lord is an vnmerited benefite for the which after my bounden duty I giue thee harty thankes But what shall I say what sufficient thanks shall I render vnto thee for thou hast not onelye armed mee against pouertie 〈◊〉 but also chosen mee as a steward to vnlocke the chest of thy benefites to needye Lazarus that as thou hast loued mee so I should tender thee in him O Lord giue me thy grace that I may bee thy stewarde by clothing the naked by feeding the hungrie lodging the harbourles and defending the fatherles that I may bee able to render a faithfull accoumpt of my stewardshipp vnto thee i 〈…〉 the daie of reuelation Grau 〈…〉 this O Father for Christe his sake Amen Another O Father of Heauen and rich God of mercie Behold thy poore creature in sin riche in grace poore bestowe vppon mee some mite of thy mercie cloath mee with the merits of thy sonne Iesus and bathe my naked bodie in 〈◊〉 pretious bloud satisfie my hungrie soule with a crum of thy gratious blessings that being cloathed with the armour of his meritorious passion I neede not to feare the naked the desperate corruption or rather wages of nature Moisten my heart with the honyedew of thy great rich grace that as thou hast enriched me beyonde my desart beyng by sinne an enimie vnto thee so I maye continue riche in good workes to the profite of my neighbours to the comfort of mine owne soule and to the manifestation of thy glorious maiestie O Lorde thou art a zealous God Such a God as wishest my healthe and the safetie of thy Creatures haue therefore mercy vppon mee blesse me with faith towardes thee with loue towardes my neighbour and a godlie care towards my selfe that thou in thy selfe mayest be magnified my conscience reioise in the testimony of a good life whose reward in thy sonne Christe is life eternal Amen The Beggers praier O Mighty Lord and prouident GOD y e stewardes of thy plentious store-house are not moued to feede the hungrie to cloath the naked and lodge the poore Pylgrime at his piteous crie but notwithstanding all this their tyrannie Father forgiue them and pardon mee as I forgiue them that haue trespassed against me Rake the fire of charitie out of the dead ashes and quicken it O Lord that I may warme mee in thy familie in time of extremitie and they be ready in thy great audit to render a full account of theyr stewardshippe vnto thee But first of all doo I begge grace of thee that I may euer seek thy kingdome and so bee persuaded in hart by thy word that I shal want nothing but that all other things shal be added vnto me This doo I aske of thee O father of Heauen that euer criest Aske haue Giue mee faith to aske in certaintye that I may looke without doubt for this thy craued mercie ô Lord I beseech thee Amen Another LAue mercie vpon mee O Lorde and pardon myne offenses the rich men of this worlde will scarse looke vpon me or vouchsafe to relieue my necessitie with the crummes of
appearance of the sunne in fulnes of comfort He desired to se the day but could not see it which is nowe paste wherin the sonne of God hath opened fully the storehouse of ioy and yet beeing wearie of the burthen of his bodie and willing to forsake it as a most stinking prison house without feare of death he crieth out Oh how long shall I lie in this prison Paule ioineth hands with father Dauid euen Paule that notable Organne of the holie Ghost who saide of himselfe It is not I that liue but Christ that liueth in mee Hee that in body saw the Lorde and knew that as a vapour his life should vanish so he in a small space should suppe with his mayster Christe in heauen after his ascension yet carriyng about himselfe this case of the soule accounteth himself wretched and therefore cryeth out Oh wretch that I am who shal deliuer me from this body of sin As if hee shoulde haue saide I knowe that the time will come when men will faint in faithe and broch infidelitie when this life shall bee more loued than wisely lothed this bodie more esteemed than godlinesse wil suffer I knowe foolish parentes will be so be witched with the immoderate loue of their children that they wil grudge at the will of God when he calleth them and sorrowe and sighe a long time after their departures which is both sinne and follie But I tell them that they ought to reioise bicause they are rested from theyr laboures bicause they are passed from Death to life because they are blessed For wretch O wretche that I am who shal deliuer mee out of this body of sinne The bodie which you haue lost is but a bodie of sinne it is but a prison of the soule as father Dauid speaketh it is but a burthen of the soule so that by Death they are deliuered from sinne to safetie from imprisonment to libertie from a yoke of myserie to endles felicitie and therefore oh wretch that I am who shal deliuer me from this body of sinne Paule indeed knewe that this world was an exile and Heauen his contrey that he was a pilgrim this world but an Inne heauen his home nay at a sight of his owne Countrey when hee was rapt hee saw at his owne home whence by sin hee was banished in Adam such ioyes as eie neuer sawe nor eare heard nor heart euer conceiued These are the ioyes which shal endure for euer for number vnmeasurable for durance perpetual and without end or period And therefore let euerye Christian bee readie and willing in ioy of spirit to welcome death in token thereof learne to crie out with Paule Oh wretch that I am who shal deliuer me from this bodye of sinne Lette vs account our selues wretched as long as we carry this weede of earth aboute vs vntill our soules bee vncased and wee deliuered from this body of sinne But if examples will not bee of force to schoole vs yet let nature speake and preuaile The seconde causes whereof you are made are the foure elements which concur to the constitution of euerye mixt creature and being euer at combat doe also naturally worke the shipwracke of the same according to the common axiome rule of nature The causes of corruption are all one with the causes of gene ration and therefore vnlesse we wil denie nature and be vn thankful to God for our creation we may not in anye case feare death which is mothered vpon nature our common and generall mother But if neyther example nor Nature will or can preuaile yet let the authoritye of our Heauenlie Creatour and his wisedome compell vs to welcome death and to accept willinglye the condition of our bodies Our bodies and soules God created he made them by the power of his almightie hande and hath lente them vnto vs but for a time to vse til mother earth require the bodie and he our soules For as of earth wee came so into earth wee must returne againe therefore vnles we will be vnthankfull to nature and rebellious to God wee must bee willing to paie our debts vnto him least if we doo it not he cast vs into prison til we haue paid the vttermost farthing So much for thy bodie Now consider thy soule As thy bodie is a prison so is thy soule during this pilgrimage a prisoner as it is a body of sin so is thy soule lodged in a most stinking prison as it is of earth earthy so is thy soule an exile from heauen heauenlie ther fore to feare death it is to feare the deliuery of thy soule from prison which is meere follie it is to wish a stinking lodging and a filthie cage to dwell in and euer to carie it about thee which is a very harde and extreame misery it is to wish thy continuall banishmente from the ioyefull realme of heauen thy natural countrey which is extreame madnes So that vnles you wil be counted foolish wretched carelesse and mad who are willed to be as wise as serpents you muste in no case feare death which is the best ghest that euer came to the godlie For now there is not cōdemnation to them that are in Christ Iesus but blessed are the dead that die in the Lord. The second weapon Consider thy life IT is short vncerteine and miserable It is short for man that is borne of a woman hath but a shorte time to liue the daies of man are the dayes of an hyrelinge yea winde and nothing as father Iob telleth vs. A man in his time is but grasse and flourisheth as a flower of the field For as soone as the wind goeth ouer it it is gone and the place thereof knoweth it no more as the prophet Dauid teacheth There is a time to be borne and a time to die And man is like a thing of naught his daies passe away like a shaddowe It is the proclamation of the Lorde vttered by Esay that al flesh is grasse and al the glorie of man as the flower of grasse And it is tolde vs by Paule that heere we haue no continuing cyttie but wee seeke for one to come This is it which is shaddowed vnto vs in sundrie similitudes Saynt Iames sayeth Our life is euen a vapour that appeereth for a little time and then vanisheth away Our daies on the earth also are but as a shadowe there is none abiding They are like a bubble in the water like a weauers shuttle like a smoke they are like a thought soone conceiued and soone ended Dailie experience dooth teache vs thus muche For wee see that by some storme or other the greene apple falleth before the mellowed fruite the lambe is brought to the slaughterhouse as wel as the sheepe the chicken is killed for the broath as wel and sooner than the cock yoong men passe awaie as wel as old our daies are short our life is as the shadowe Now therefore reason with me Shal we feare
thereof it came without question that they did cursse not onlie the daie of birth but also him that brought the message to their father that a child was borne They had fullie considered the degrees of their miserie Their birth place was but a foule and filthie dungeon they themselues were but a substance of bloud and instruments of their mothers their nourishment little better than venom their birth not without extreme pains of the deere mother and violent offense of their tender bodies They knewe throughlie that they were conceiued in filth and vncleannes born in sinne and care and nourished with paine and labour They dyd knowe themselues to haue bin like cralling wormes and that at their entrie into this worlde they were apparelled with bloud And therefore considering their miserable condition they curssed the daye of their wretched birth Yea this made father Ieremie to wishe that his mothers wombe hadde serued for his tumbe and father Esaie to bewaile his birth and to murmur againste the knees that helde him vppe and also the breasts that gaue him suck They had fully conceiued that man was made of the slime of the earth conceiued in sinne borne in paine and at the laste made a prey for wormes This miserie of mans life had they fullie digested and therefore wished to haue died before they were borne Come hither nowe beloued Christians wee are manie an ace short of Iob Ieremie or Esay in life and in iudgement One after a through sifting of this miserable life wished that his mothers wombe had been his tumbe another murmured at the paps that gaue him suck the third curssed the daie of his birth and not onelie that but him also that firste declared it Did they soe lyttle sette by this myserable life as to cursse it and so little loue the pappes that norished them as to murmur against them yea the verie knees that helde them vp and by reason of this wretched pilgrimage to be so wearie of this life as to wishe they had beene buried in their mothers wombe and shall wee feare death They wished they had neuer liued and shal we for feare of death wishe euer or a longe time to liue they curssed the daie of their birth whoe were holie men and shal we weepe for the daie of death the verie ende of their wishe did they murmur against the paps that gaue them sucke and shall not we welcome death when the Lord sendeth him naye they murmured euen againste the knees that did beare them vp and shal not we bee willing to surrender heade feete handes heart knees and al to mother earth and to salute death in ioy of spirit Fie for shame and out vpon vs if we doo not willinglie and merrilie wishe and crye Thy kingdome come ô father of heauen Come Lord Iesus come Let vs denie the olde man cherish our hope that wee haue in the full merites of Christ that when the Lorde shall call we may come vnto him without anye rebellion And as for death account of it but as a moste blessed ende or period of this wretched life an axe that cutteth off al miseries and therefore feare it not The thirde weapon Consider the commodities of death WE are tossed turmoyled vppon the seas of this world with manie a dangerous tempest euen till wee be we arie or at least should be with holie Paule of our short vncerteine miserable liues and then dooth the Lorde euen of mercie call vs to reste and ioy with his Saints in heauen 〈◊〉 that resting from our labours wee may continuallie pray se him with the band of his holie Angels By death he deliuereth vs from danger and therefore to arme vs against the feare therof it pleased the holie spirit to cal death a sleepe by the which being dispatched of all aduersities wee are brought to our graues therein to lie as it were in a soft featherbed and in a sweet sleep abiding the comming of Christ our lord whe◠hee shall knocke at the bedd◠and cal vs vppe to liue for eue◠with him and his holye Aungels Death therfore doth not swalow vp our bodies thogh for a time they must lie in the bellie of mother earth For death is a sleepe and is vnpossible as it is that a whole man being in a sound sleepe should not wake vp againe euen so vnpossible is it that a Chrystian shoulde continue in Death for euer And as for this sleepe it is but a shorte sleepe for the daye is at hand and the time of iudgmente draweth neere when dead bodies shall arise and the earth shal render them vp that be in her that meeting and appearing together with our beloued friends and set vpon the right hand of his blessing wee may as liuely members be fully knit in our body Christ Iesus So that death is but a sleepe and a shorte sleepe out of the which we and al our brethren sisters and friends that are departed in the Lorde shall rise more fresh than euer we were to leaue this fraile and earthie bodie and to haue it made like to the glorious bodie of Iesus Christ. And who now would feare death or who should grudge at the Lorde for castinge vs asleepe Death is a sleepe the earth is the Christian mannes featherbed where he must lie◠till the trumpet shall sound to awake him and call him vnto iudgement Who wil murmur againste this necessitie or rather againste this mercie for mercie it is that we die but for a time or rather sleepe for a time where of merit we shuld die for euer And therefore vnles by your gronings and sighings you wil exclaime against the mercy of the Lord by the which you are saued doo not feare Death or murmur against him but bles him with father Iob and thank him hartily that he hath granted thee thy daielye petition wherein thou praiest sayeng Our Father which art in heauen thy wil bee doone deliuer vs from euil For as for the first his will is doone whensoeuer any man dieth The verie farthing sparrowe can not fall without his prouidence the heares of our head can not perishe without his will much lesse dieth anie man without his will whoe far surpasseth all farthinge Sparrowes So that to wishe them aliue that are departed in peac it is to wishe that God his wil were not doone and what is that but to wishe that GOD were no God For if God bee God his wil is iust and muste needs be doone But as for many they will acknowledge that the will of God is doone againe that hi◠wil was iust in calling for their children whome hee had but lent them for a time and yet will carrie a biting sorrowe in their hearts and so wil they go neere to bringe death vppon themselues But to such mourning mothers I saye Why doo you mourne this life is a warfare death is asleepe Why do you mourne this life is short by condition and ful of myseries
mercy and to open his iudgementes and iustice vnto the world it hath pleased him to blesse som with store of his goodnes and to punish others with the wante of his temporall blessings Thus with pouertie he beateth the poore to declare his iudgement against sinne and the ritch man hee storeth with aboundance to the manifestation of his vndeserued mercie By these his benefits vpon the ritche and these his scourges laid vpon the poore hee crieth out to them Sinne no more alluring the one partie by faire and gentle the other by sharp and bitter meanes vnto safe repentance The rich man he maketh his deputies on earth or rather the stewards of his familie or rather the paterns of his mercie to take pitie vpon the begger when he craueth reliefe euen as he hath taken cōpassion vpon them who neuer deserued it And that they may vse them selues as shewers of his mercy hee hath promised that they shal alwaies haue y e poore with them this we see at this daye What a band of beggers be in euery place the poore doo swarme in euerye corner the fatherles and widowes yoong and old of all ages infinite doo grone and crie for very neede Som want cloth to couer their naked bodies some haue not meate to mittigate their hunger some noe drinke to ease their thirst some lie vnder hed ges in steed of lodginges some are lame and cannot go some are blind and cannot see some are deafe and cannot heare some are dumbe and cannot speake some are sicke some are sore of all people to the iudgement of the worlde most miserable and therefore doo they seeme to make this complaint to God our Heauenlye father O Lorde thou hast created vs thou hast framed vs we are thy handiworke and thou the potter that madest our grandfather Adam of the moulde of the earth Was thy goodnesse such to make vs when we wer not gentle Lord and wilt thou beate vs nowe thou hast made vs O Lord where is thy mercie is the eie of thy pitty dim med are the eares of thy woon ted goodnesse sealed what Lord is the hand of thy fauor shortened is the riuer of thy goodnesse dried vp Shal we hunger nay shall wee hungerstarue for want of thy blessinges what now good Lord thy sonne taught vs to praie Our Father Are we thy children and thou our Father Oh! where is thy fatherlie prouidence for beholde O piteous Lord we are borne to nothing besides skin flesh and bones we haue nothing in this world We post from place to place run from towne to towne wee goe from house to house we cry for releefe in thy name we aske it for thy sake but alas good Lorde wee can get nothing If we be strong though wee haue charge of children we are whipped we are stocked wee are imprisoned and howe not abused if wee bee lame dum deafe sicke or sore we may cry but alas charity is frozen where one heareth hundreds doo stop their eares and are deafe at our sutes O Lord charitie is drowned the best friend which we shuld haue hard hearts doo reigne the stoutest enimy that we can haue with this enimie we are assaulted almost in euery place alas for pitty pitty sweet lord is our request haue mercy vpon vs. Looke vppon Lazarus our king and capteine behold Lord he commeth to the rich mans gate there he lieth there he crieth Crums crummes he craueth to ease his hunger but he cannot get them dogs haue them but Lazarus cānot haue them The dogs come to Lazarus and licke his sores but Diues hath no feete to carrie him no tongue to laie the playster of comfort to his earnest sute no hand to helpe him not a crum to feede him Beholde Lorde doggs are better vnto vs than Diues nay they are in better case than we are for they haue the crums that falles from their maisters table but alas Lazarus cannot come by them O Lorde now where is thy wonted mercie shall Lazarus want shal he want the crums of breade to ease his hunger what shal he crie for them shal hee not haue them shall he shout but shall hee not bee heard what good Lorde shal hee die for hunger and Diues walowe in pleasure What Lord hast thou loste thy name god which soundeth as much as good thou art called Deus quasi Dans and yet shall Lazarus wante bread to refresh him This complaint of the poore man dooth gnawe him nay sometimes it quyte deuoureth him But to lay a salue of comfort to this sore of Lazarus O Lazarus why doest thou weepe why doest thou crie out whie doest thou seeme to blame the Lorde he hath appointed Diues as a father to regard thee But what dooest thou come to his gate dooest thou craue charitie art thou denied it the Lord commanded it therefore is the Lord instified when he is iudged But Diues hath abused his benefits and therefore shal he answer for it Let this be thy cōmfort let this be thy lodge to reste in from all complaints that one daie God who is charitie shal iudge the worlde the greatest scourge that Diues shall haue Then shall hee say as accounting that not doone vnto him which was not doon vnto you when I was hungrye thou gauest me no meate noe not the crums that fell from thy table when I was thirstie thou gauest me no drink when I was naked thou didst not cloath me when I was in prison thou didst not comfort me when I was harbourles thou didst not lodge mee giue an accoumpt of thy stewardship Then shal he crie out that hee neuer saw him hungrie or thirstie or else he would haue refreshed him not imprisoned or else hee would haue visited him not lodgles or else he would haue harboured him But this is all lies and therefore will he say vnto him Nescio I know thee not Departe as cursed into euerlasting fire where shall bee weeping and gnashing ofteeth Come hither crieng Lazarus thou that criest and showtest out vppon the Lorde and vpon the tyrannie of worldelings art thou sicke art thou sore art thou deafe art thou dumbe art thou naked what hast thou no place to laie thy head in come hither for here are pallaces of pleasure to pastime in excellente turrets of ioy to banket in and lodgelesse of infinit comfort to harbor in For what haue you not hadd meate when you haue craued it or drinke when you haue asked it haue you beene in prison and not visited sicke not comforted sore not eased naked and not cloathed wanderers and not succored Behold in your behalf Christ will iudge the rich and mercilesse gluttons of this worlde and in the daye of reuelation you to your ioyous conquest and to their vtter shame shall testifie beare witnes against them This is the first lodge of comfort But yet there is another besides this enter into that Behold when you asked reliefe it was Christ that asked and
1593. DAVIDS SLING against great GOLIAH Conteining diuers notable Treatises the names whereof folow next after the Epistle to the Reader by E. H. Mat. 26 41. Watch and praie Printed by R. Yardley and Peter Short Cum priuilegio Regiae Maiestatis To the Right Worshipfull Sir George Calueley knight High Sheriffe of the Countie Palantine of Chester increase of worship c. THe earth being the common mother and milch nursse of al liuing creatures 〈…〉 gentlie 〈◊〉 yeldeth a 〈◊〉 more plentiful crop of increase 〈◊〉 possibly be measured than euer at the 〈◊〉 of the husbandman in sowing 〈…〉 A pithie persuasion to thankfulnesse and such a notable motiue to dutifulnes as a better no not the like 〈◊〉 deuised or imagined The consideration whereof 〈◊〉 Worshipfull sinking into mine understanding and compared with the manyfold curtesies which continuâ—ly haue issued from you to my noâ—mal comfort and commoditie hath incensed set me on fire though not as I woulde yet as I could to shewe some manifest signe and argument that I haue your Worshippes goodnesse in freshe and dailie memorie which although I dare not vowe to requite yet wil I do what I can in some respect to deserue Vouchsafe therefore Right Worshipfull in the meane time since I haue no pretious mines to accept and like wel of this my simple mite simple I confesse in common valuation but pretious I dare aâ—oâ—ch in sound iudgement and reason A booke it is which a kinsman of mine not so neere as deere vnto mee at my vrgent request bestowed vpon mee in writing for my priuate vse and peculiar exercise Wherof when I had marked the commoditie and sawe that to communicate the same vnto the flocke of the faithfull were much better and more thanksworthie than to keepe it at home in my cofer impounded as my proper possession and portion of my patrimonye I was won and perswaded at the importunate sute and instance of sundrie my trustie friends who vpon circumspect perusing of the same gaue it due and deserued commendation to consent and agree Authore agrè serente prosus inuito that it should bee published for the common benefite of the multitude Very loth I was I speake my conscience to offend my kinsman and friend in anye pointe of presumption and muche more loath I vtter my secret thought to greeue any godlie and deuout soule by detaining any thinge the vse whereof might increase their comfort But beyng assaulted as I was incessantlie with ve hement perswasions and not able with al my fiue wits to withstand their weakest reason I became willing to bee ordered and ruled as they by discretion mighte dispose me in so honest a request The same not in writing Right Worshipful as I had it but in printe as you haue it being the firstlings of a Cheshire wit gathered in a famous seedeplot of great learning and profound knowledge I present vnto you with suche submission as beseemeth an inferiour to his superiour a clyent to his patrone a welwiller to his benefactor Beseeching you of your accustomed curtesie that as you haue from time to time beene not onely an earnest sauourer and furtherer of godlie and zealous men but also a supporter and mainteyner of vertuous and Christian meanings so it would please you with your title of credit and countenance as with a shield to defend this religious worke againste the dartes of the malicious that vnderpropped with so strong a piller and armed with such fuâ—â—iture of munition and defense it may haue safe conduct and free passage euen through the middest of Gods enimies and so come to the hands of the wel disposed and deuout Thus abruptlie concluding I commit your Worship and al yours to the â—uition and safegard of him who neuer faileth his the Lord God almightie who as hitherto he hath so hereafter he will euen vntil the day of your death I doubt not blesse you with the dew of heauen I meane his grace wherevnto I say Amen Your Worships for sundry causes most dutifully bound WILLIAM BAKER The Epistle to the Reader OVr aduersarie the diuel is so watchfull a lion to deuoure man that as Peter speaketh he roreth and runneth about seeking by al meanes possible to deuouâ—e him Thus his greâ—â—â—nesse to swallowe vs ought to bee a sufficient motiue to make man warie and a forceable meane to raise him out of the daungerous bed of sinne wherein we daylye yea and almoste 〈◊〉 commit spirituall fornication with the 〈◊〉 â—â—sides this at baptisme our sureties in our â—â—halfe did make their protestation before God the father and mother Ierusalem that we shuld leaue the whâ—â—râ—sh embracings of Satan and marrie our selues in holines of lâ—fe vnto Christ no lesse carefullie than be in the vertue of 〈◊〉 couenant mercifully did offer himselfe 〈◊〉 all his pretiâ—us â—ewels at baptisme The marriage was solemnlie celebrated by God the father in the wombe of the virgiâ—â— Marie but at baptisme wee in our owne per sons doe as it were ratifie it protesting that Christ shal be our husband and that from that time we wil take our farewel of the dyuell the world the flesh and al our enmes Thus being married before such witnesses we cannot reclaime our league of chastitie vnlesse we wil haue God himselfe and our mother the Church and Christ himselfe with al his holye espouse to beare witnesse of condemnation against vs to the ioy of Satan our capital aduersarie And therefore where the deuel is called a Dragon with seuen heads for his subtiltyâ— and ten hornes for his crueltie and now is dust and ashes by nature prone to euill and therefore vnable to withstand him it behoueth him to take that for his weapon which may keepe 〈◊〉 safe from the inuasion of Satan and vse that remedie whereby he 〈◊〉 preserue himselfe from periury and that 〈◊〉 praier Wherefore when man is enuironed with enimies when a guilty conscience warreth against him when the world by falshood and the flesh by her allurements is about to deceiue him then is standeth him vpon to take praier in hande that hee maye bee able to conquer al those monstrous Hydras or rather deceitful whors which 〈◊〉 and furnish themselues some way or other to make Christ our Sauiour a â—â—dowe And truely of that man woulde deepely consider with himselfe either that he is a periâ—red person that giueth place to the Dyuell or that he dooth to his power make Christ a weeping widdowe as curssed Ierusalem did or that Satan by trapping him in his whoorish trickes did vtterlie vndoe him it woulde not onlye inuite him but euen enforce him to praier which is the onely meanes that is able to keepe vs true and faithfull wiues to Christ Iesus And therefore the Lord our gratious Sauiour weighing with himselfe not so much mannes naughtinesse for the which bee deserueth a diuorcement as Satans woonderous pollicâ—e and his mothers wombe wherein he married vs and baptisme wherein he dooth apparell vs
or bubble in the water a verie wretch I am good Lord borne in sinne by nature wrapt in iniquitie and so thine vtter enimie worthie to perishe euerlastinglie But see thine owne goodnes sweete Lord thine hands formed mee beeing nothing thy mercie hath preserued mee till this day beeing nought And euen nowe sweete Iesu thou hast sent thy purseuant sicknes to bid me put off the old man put on the garment of faith that I being readie for the mariage may come and marrie thee in the couenant of thy father wherein al the nations of the world by promise are blessed Amen Another LOuing Iesu pittifull Iesu blessed Trinitie haue mercie vpon mee Beholde I am sicke Lorde iustlie buffeted for sinne the mother of euerie mortal infirmitie Yet Lorde louing Iesu pittie me pittie my case Louing father purge mee with Isop clense me from my secret sinnes drie vp the puddle of iniquity with the beams of thy mercy and clense me in the poole of thy pretious blood that this sicknes and infirmity the iust reward and penalty of sin and iniquity may cease and finish Beat me O God ô gratious God O father of heauen beate me in fauour and not in iudgement kisse me with the couenant of grace and be not angrie with mee O louing Iesu ful of pity and pitious compassion I would be clean and if thou wilt Lorde thou canst make me cleane Behold Lord I am sicke the palsie of sinne shaketh euerie part the leprosie of mine iniquitie hath ouer run al my soule and body but yet good Lorde and gratious Iesus if thou wilte thou canst make me cleane For thou art my father Almightie with whome nothing is impossible Lord I aske thy grace giue it mee I seeke it let me finde it I knocke for mercie open O Lord the chest of thy goodnes and enrich me with the iewels of grace that I may reign with thee in glory Amen A confession for the Sicke MY thoughtes my words my deedes al crie vnto mee Thou art a sinner And this doo I confesse vnto thee O Lord I cannot so much as think a good thought much lesse can I speake muche lesse can I doo wel I confesse that in me that is in my fleshe dwelleth no good thinge euen so vile a Creature so wretched a caitife that Satan might iustlie haue claimed my life in the swathecloth beeing borne the childe of wrath and heire of damnation I am a cankered branch of mother Eue that ancient stock of sinne whose heritage is nothing but iniquitie garded with an infinite sea of miserie For out of sinne as out of a filthie puddle or stayned fountaine issued the riuers of sicknes death and damnation with such a streame that they ouerranne and drowned the whole race of Adams curssed progenie So that as I confesse my selfe a sinner so doo I confesse that I am iustlie visited with this rod of sicknes wherwith thou art woont of thy iustice to beate wanton Adam that old man of sinne when he wil not be ruled Beat me therfore beate me O Lord to better me and sinite me enough so thou saue mee as I doo put my truste in thee Let Satan haue no power to harme mee nor the worlde with the baites of vanitie to snare me but defend me from al euil I beseech thee Amen Another O Bleeding Iesus O slaughtered Lambe O sweete babe of the virgin Marie and onlie beloued darling of God behold heere I lie sicke in bodie and sore in soule whome thou hast bought with thy pretious blood Helpe me saue me from sinne the fountaine of sicknes O fountain of mercie For I am a greeuous sinner by nature fettered with iniquitie wherein I was conceiued and borne O Iesu O Christ thou sonne of Dauid O gratious samaritan and piteous shepherd haue mercie vppon me haue mercie vpon me cal me clense me saue me salue me with the merit of thy passion againste the palsie of sinne and iniquitie O lambe of God thou hast taken awaie the sinnes of the worlde thou hast crucified the diuell confirme this faith in mee louing Lorde I beseech thee I beseech thee encrease my faythe and renew a righte spirit within mee Remember Lorde remember sweet Iesus thy crowne of thornes bruzed head thy boared handes nailed feete and crucified bodie Remember the pearsing speare thy wounded side and thy pretious blood that did spin and gush out Remember thy bloudie teares thy great thirst of my saluation and gall and vineger which thou didst drink to saue me and for thy mercie saue me and crie to thy father Father father forgiue him O Iesu be mine aduocate praie praie sweete Iesus praie for me and bestow some drop of thy bloud to wash me Amen A praier against desperation O Lorde I am a greeuous sinner I haue passed broken the banks of thy cōmandements from the wombe til this daie I haue with the pirat Satan sailed in the shippe of iniquity so that I maye saie with Paule I am cheefe of all sinners This must I needes confesse to thee O god of iustice this worm of conscience biteth me What then good Lord shal y e worme deuoure me shal this snake of conscience sting me to death what good Lord is the stream of thy mercy stopped are the riuers of thy grace dried vppe is there no drop of thy bloud left to washe my seelie soule doest thou not cal me saiyng Come vnto mee Yes good Lord and therefore despaire I wil not It is not thy will that anie sinner should perish and thou hast not onely said it but sworneit that thou willest not the deth of a sinner but rather his conuersion and life Behold therefore deere Father I come vnto thee being a greeuous sinner in hope of pardon in the name of Christe thy sonne who by his own testimonie came into this world to saue sinners Hee was content to blot out that obligation which satan hadde against me by the flood of his pretious bloud which issued out of hys glorious side In this poole he hath washed away the leprosie of sinne were it neuer so desperate And in token that he is ready to receiue a sinner hee stretcheth foorth both his sweete armes as ready to embrace and boweth downe his glorious head as willing to kisse the prodigall childe that craueth pardon for his misse-spent daies O Lord and gratious God I haue wasted my daies in vanitie I haue from time to time troden vnder my feete the pearles of Christyan profession euen frō the womb haue I beene a rebellious traitour to thy maiestie a friend to this world to godlines an enimie but nowe O Lorde I crie vnto thee forgiue me forgiue me Now I come vnto thee as thou hast called me now there fore couer me with the winges of thy mercie and tender mee as the hen dooth her chickens least Satan clawe me and so I perish Good Lord accept the bloud of thy sonne the merits of his manhood for a
fatherlie prouidence Blesse O Lord the curssed earth so fructifie the barren earth with the deawe of heauen that we may haue great cause to glorifie thy name and sufficient for nature againste extremitie to releeue vs with thy store in time of necessity Amen A praier for peace AP pease O gratious God the surging waues of this present euill worlde cut downe the angrie make-bates and graunt vnto vs the peace of thy spirit that liuing in one minde and bearing about vs one wil grounded vpon thy gratious pleasure wee maye bee gathered into one sheepefolde and liue in brotherlie loue and vnfained vnitie O louing maker and God of peace it is a pitious thing to see the malice of the world it is a myserie to behold how thy members disioint themselues in ceremonies and beggerlie elements it is a hell to consider how mightie Saule rageth against little Dauid to see the beastlie crueltie and tiger like tyrannie of the Pharaos of this world who not tendring their owne case not regarding the end of thy passion or full and sole redemption do racke and rent the babes of thy Church thy beloued wife Redresse all this gratious God eyther cut off our enimies or else conuert them that wee may together wage battell against the diuell our archaduersarie Season the harts of our brethren that wil for a trifling ceremonie renounce thy veritie and breake the bandes of Christian vnity Continue the weake nouices of thy schoole in the libertie of thy Gospel that all offense being taken away we may serue thee the God of peace euen charitie it selfe in Charitie Amen A praier in time of Warre O Lorde and onelye peacemaker linke vs in vnitie that are deuided ioyne vs in loue that haue sundered our selues and so transgressed thy holie will If our cause bee euill good Lord amend vs and reconcile vs with the peace of thy spirit if it be good defende vs O Lorde and turne vnto vs or else confound our enimies Gratious Iesus thou knotte of peace which hast ioyned God thy father and man not onelie in fauour as friendes but also coupled vs in one brotherhood with thee as his children we beseech thee to sow the seede of concord in vs that we maie liue in thee as fruitful branches now and for euer O Lord giue vs thy grace that wee purchase no enuie nor be the fathers of sedition of warr or any insurrection but imprinte in our hearts thus much that thou art loue who shalt come to iudge the quicke and the dead Charitie shall iudge the world and confound al bruers of tumults Ingraue this lesson O Lord in the tables of our harts and for giue vs al that is past guide vs in that which is to come that we fall not but stande fast in the way of thy will Amen A praier for the Captaine DEfend the righteous cause of thy seruant assist mee with strength against mine enimies with the wisedome of thy spirit against the policie of man that beeing wholie guided by thee I may fight manfullie in thy quarrel to the building of thy Church and vtter rebuke of her aduersaries Without thee ô fountaine of goodnesse and God of mine estate I can doo nothing Arme mee therefore with thy grace with the buckler of thy word that I may bee able not onely to war with but also to ouermatch Satan my deadlye foe and al his hellish band setting themselues against thee and thine annointed Enriche me with thy mercie that I may bee able to put vpon mee the white raiment offaith and being clothed with it may stande sure against the foming minysters of the diuel that no storm may ouerturne or dismay me O Lord kepe me from al wrest ling affections from inordinate motions defende mee O Lord. Let al discord be remooued whereby thy pellican children may be disseuered But nourishe O God of loue thy babes with the spirite of patience that I and they beeing of one minde may doo our endeuoures and bende our whole strength to the reedifieng of mother Sion which traueleth with sorrowes and sinketh in the mist of heresies vnles thou pul hir out by the hande of thy mercie which doo O gratious God I beseech thee Amen A praier for the souldiour THis worlde is nothing else but a sea of trouble heere the diuel stormeth there the worlde frowneth on euerie side the flesh assaulteth vs so that our life may well be tearmed a warrefare and our daies a treasure of dangers O Lorde with the anchor of thy mercie vphold vs that we sink not in the sea of this troublous time but guide vs with thy holie spirit that our liues may please thee and wee in our death praise thee through Iesus Christ our Lord. Plant the tree of peace among vs lette it flourishe to the gladdening of our harts that al dissention cut off wee may be linked in one knot of Christian vnitie gathered into one sheepfold and guided by thee our onelie and one sheepheard Let nothing sunder the members of thy bodie but cherish and nourish them with a full persuasion of brotherhood in the vnitie of our Sauiour and thee our one and onlie father Amen A praier in time of dearth O Mightie God and maker of al things thou art iuste and in iustice hast thou scourged vs we confesse it O Lord. Our liues haue deserued thy whip the excessiue riot of sinne hath merited the famine and want of thy gratious benefites but not withstanding louing Lord burie our iniquities in the multitude of thy wonted goodnes and blesse vs with the store of thy mercie that as wee may nowe declare thy iustice reuealed agaynste sinne so likewise wee maye preach and blase abroad to the worlde the bottomlesse pit of thine infinit pittie O gratious Lord thou gauest thine onely sonne our Iesus to the death euen to the death of the crosse by his bitter passion to purchase our redemption As thou hast giuen him so good Lord giue vs all thy benefites with him that as thou hast by him redeemed vs so wee in him may bee sustained during this transitorie life with fulnesse of thy grace tyll the daie of his great visitation when meting him in the clouds we shall be set on his right hande to liue with him in sulnesse of ioye for euer Desend vs O Lord from extreme needines and correct vs not in thine anger but store vs with sufficient in thy mercie Foode and raiment good Lord wee aske no more Giue vs and grant vs this our petition and giue vs grace therwith to be content Amen A praier against the feare of death THy handes haue ramed me O lord And whereas to the ble 〈…〉 she of all his posteritie father Adam made himselfe thorough follie worse than nothing a curssed caitife euen thine vtter enimie it pleased thee of vnmerited goodnes to leaue the colledge of thy Saints the ninetie nine iust sheepe the bande of thy blessed angels to seeke the straieng sheepe the groate
that lost that royall stamp of a pure nature to the vtter disgracing of all his progenie Man this loste sheepe thou soughtest O Iesus thou foundest sweet Iesus by death thou foundest her by bleeding paines thou foundest her by nailed hands and bored feete thou foundest her by a sharpe thornie crowne which pear ced thy glorious head by sheding of thine owne bloud by drinking of veneger in thine extreme thirst by suffering the most violent death of y e crosse thou foundest her and so fo undest thy lost sheepe man loste man sinfull man the childe of wrath O Iesus O louing Iesus tender harted Samaritan that of a sicke hast salued of a sore sinner hast saued him of a wicked Creature washed him cleane in the streame of thine inestimable mercie O Iesu O gratious Iesu thou hast sought loste man and founde lost man by condemning sinne by breaking the bands of the diuel by conquering hell sinne death and diuel in the flesh Sith therefore thouhaste O louing Iesu pitiful Iesu of thy mercy shed thy bloud not onlie for my firste father Adam but also for mee euen for the whole worlde that as sinne ouerran al men to condemnation by one man so in thee al the nations of the worlde might bee blessed And sith thou hast not onelie made a ful purgation for my sinnes beeing the slaughtered Lambe that haste taken awaie the sinnes of the worlde but also soong a conquest ouer sinne which hath lost his sting death which was dead hel which had lost the victorie and the dragon which thou ouercammest in heauen by preaching libertie to Captiues and leading captiuitie captiue there is no cause whie I should faint and feare death Arme mee therfore O Lord with this faith that thou hast dashed Death in peeces with the rod of thy merits drowned the diuell in the riuers of thy pretious blood that no torment or biting paine of the fleshe sunder mee from thee most louing Iesu but imprint in my heart thy grace that in greatest anguishe I may be so farre from the feare of it as rather to crie with thy Sayntes Come Lord Iesu Come and desire to bee dissolued with Paule and to be with thee my louing husband than by anie panges of death to refuse thee O Lord doo thy good will Amen Another OVr Father which arte in heauen thou art life how shal I come vnto thee there is no waie O Lord but thy selfe no man commeth vnto thee but by thee There is no remedy but this vessel of earth must bee broken before I shall see thee face to face euen as thou art in fulnes of glorie Dust to duste ashes to ashes claie to claie earth muste returne to earth to pay this borrowed tabernacle to earth where of it came Grasse must wither the flower must fade the vapour vanish I must be dissolued before I shall be ioyned fullie to thee my head and onelie vine wherein I liue Thy purseuant sicknes must visit this body of sinne and death muste rowe me ouer the seas of this world vnto thee in the barke of faith by the anchor of thy couenāts made to the house of Dauid O Lord therefore giue me grace to welcome death by which I must passe to life that dieng in thee I may be blessed and liue in the storehouse of thy ioyes for euer Amen Another O Louing husbande mine onely Iesus sleepe not slumber not but awake my ioye awake my comfort and lose the bandes of my miserie Death death O Lord thou hast nailed to the tree by the pretious passion and drowned Satan the prince of darkenesse in the streamie floud of thy blessed bloud Sweet Iesus louing Lord and husband mine lock vp the faith of this thy merit in my heart and clip mee in the sweete armes of thy woonted comfort Kisse me kisse mee pitious Iesu pittie mee and be not angrie with mee Diuorce me not O mercifull Iesus but marrie me in mercie and call me in thy fauor to the mariage of grace that beeing thine by the testimonie of thy spirite I may singe with a brasen face sinne where is thy sting hel where is thy victorie Mercie O Lorde mercie loue louing God loue is thy nam 〈…〉 mercie is my sute O bottomlesse pitie thy loue I labor and crie for Lord Lord Iesus thou sonn of Dauid haue mercie vpon mee and spread foorth the banners of thy comfort that I may knowe that I am thine and knowing it may neuer distrust thine inestimable mercie Amen Another in forme of a confession IN thy name O Lord Amen I acknowledge to the publishing of God his glorie and the comfort of my soule that I am God his owne childe that he hath created me of nothing redeemed me being lost preserued me from the wombe till this time In him haue I onely trusted neuer shal be confounded Beloued friendes in the Lord for your comfort and mine owne duetie heare my confession which euery christian is boūd to make I acknowledge ther fore in the face of GOD Almightie before you all that whether I liue or die I am his He hath suffered death to saue mee from death he was crowned with thornes to crowne me with glorie he was bored and nailed to the tree to nayle and to crucifie the sinnes of the whole world He was content to be pearced and goared with a speare yea so pearsed that the blood gushed out and for nothing else but to washe me cleane from the sore of sin in the streames of his mercie For this with one consent lett vs crie Our soules doo magnifie the Lord and our spirits rcioise in God our Sauiour Sccondlie I confesse that though Christe in his pretious bloud hath clensed me from the filth of sinne that notwithstanding I doo nothing in this present life but heape sinne vppon sin and hourde vp trespasse vpon trespasse so that this daie is worse alwaies than yesterdaie by increasing as daies so sins and therefore the indignation of God against mee But yet those of hel shal not be able to preuaile against me For there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Iesus my Sauiour Thirdlie I confes that as my life is sinful so it is shorte like a smoke like a shaddowe like a warrefare like a flower that fadeth grasse that withereth a word that soon passeth it is like a bubble in the water a weauers shuttle it is a span long and no moe Againe it is not onelie short but also miserable For it is an exile a vale of miserie it is a wildernesse it is stuffed with sorrowes a cage of enimies a sea of myseries a dungeon of gronings greeuous sobbings it is a storme a tempest that wonderfullie trobleth the people of our heauenlie father beleeue me it is no better than a womans trauell and that is extremelie miserable and therefore as not onelie short but also wretched I am willing to forsake it Yea death welcome death sicknes sicknes of
his side doo testifie a iust condemnatiō against vs that we did so vnthankfully vse them to destroy the sonne of God and yet doo commyt sinne to our power seeking to slaie him againe O yee butchers consider this innocent Lambe how he bleedeth and sheaddeth his pretious bloud to cleanse you from sinne and so to saue you from Satan drinke vp in faith the droppings of his bloud and moisten your soules therwith eate him and chewe him for hee is the bread of life which whosoeuer eateth he shall neuer hunger any more Bid war to old Adam proclaime battell against the subtile serpent and fight like good souldiers of Christ crucified against sinne that death and hel beeing put to the foile by the strength of your valiant capitain ye may at length be registred among the blessed saints of God for euer But if al this will not moue thee O foolish creature to repentance neither the miserable seruice of Satan nor the horrible end of sinne nor the maiestie or mercie of Iesus Christ nor the villanie that sin wrought vnto him which all ought to be forcible motiues and sufficient retentiues from sinne yet consider a while the condition of sinners which of al other is most miserable For first they are Gods enimies euen such rebellious enimies as with open armes in Satans quarrel vnder corrupt nature as their souereigne resist Gods gouernment which thing O sinfull man is of all other most horrible to be Gods enimie to be at war with God to be hated of the most mightie puissant and omnipotente Lord of hosts Neither doo sinners by warring against the honor of God vnder sinne and Satan onelye purchase the anger and hatred of God vpon their heads but also they greeue the courtiers of Ierusalem which is aboue and put the Angels and Saints of God to great greefe and sor row For if that they reioise at the conuersion of a sinner and bee gladde when the loste groat is found and the straieng sheepe brought to the sheepfold then what greefe what sorow what heauinesse do sinners purchase vnto them when being loste they wil not be found and being straieng sheepe they will not be brought to the sheepefold of grace againe And heere it may please all sinners to consider that as repenting wee gladden the Angels and Saintes of God and make the diuell to repine and greeue so when wee commit sinne and decline from the right line of righteousnes then do we keepe wakes for the diuel then dooth he hop for ioy when we defraud the good angels of God of their ioy These irreuocable sinners these the Lorde dooth hate as vtter enimies yea rotten and stinking carion is more sweete before men than is such a soule before God and his Aungels And therefore let all such repent not onelie because they are iniurious to God and offensiue to the good but also bicause they are stinking creatures and such as the Lord neither may nor will abide vnles they returne vnto him in sackcloth and ashes and therefore repent and amend Secondly those sinners that stop their eares against the retrait of these motiues let them consider their woonderous follie For sinne is the dung of the old serpent and he that sinneth for the vilest thing that is forsaketh the most pretious iewel in heauen and earth For what dooth mans soule lose by sinne from whom departeth she from whom doth she separate hir selfe euen frō God her maker her redeemer and Sauiour yea when shee sinneth she forsaketh saluation and her owne safetie she runneth into the stinking lappe of the diuell her desperate aduersarie and hasteneth hirselfe vn to hell Yea by sinne the kingdome of the diuel is inlarged for he that committeth sinne is the seruant of sinne And what if I saye that sinne maketh man like to Satan for whatsoeuer deformitie or filth is in the diuell that is by sinne of the which if the Deuill might bee freed he were a noble and excellent creature Euen so the soule of man by sinne is made filthie and deformed like the Diuel And what an iniurie is this to God that by sinne of his owne image wee shoulde make the image of the diuell Repent therefore and consider thirdlie that it gladdeneth the diuell to see vs sin because thereby we become his dwelling house Now how cursed a thing is sinne which maketh the temple of God the temple of Satan what follie nay what madnes is it to lodge the diuel in our heartes and to driue Christ and his holie spirit out of doores Why shoulde man deale so vnthankefullie with him that being God came from the top of the heauens to this vallie of miserie to take mans flesh vpon him that hee might be his Iesus or why should we sinne and by continual sinning bid adieu to the spirit of holines harbor satan in our harts shall he by whom al creatures were made glorious by sinne bee banished far from vs and he by whome all creatures were deformed bee wholie lodged within vs But tel me O man Christ is saluation life ioy loue and all in al the diuell is the father of death a murderer a manslaier a tyrant a prince of darknesse the worker of woe Now answer doest thou like better of death than of lyfe of paine than of ioye of hatred than loue of damnation than saluation and of hel than of hea uen if thou doo then shalt thou depart curssed into the euerlasting fire But if thou doo prefer Iesus Christ with his inesti mable blessings before Satan then why doost thou wallowe in sinne which is the onelye waie to preferre Satan in this world to establish his kingdome of darknes Wherfore O miserable man repent and amende consider that Iesus Christ like an euangelical henne neuer ceaseth clocking to gather thee vnder his winges like a chicken let him not clock cal in vaine neither be thou like vnto them that stoppe their cares against the charmer charme he neuer so wiselie Consider that God created thee wholie to serue him with al thy hart soule strength and power remember that thou at baptisme diddest vowe and swear obedience to his name remember that before GOD and al the bande of the holye Aungels and Saints thou didst renounce satan al his works and repent vnlesse thou wilte haue God and all his heauenlie Citizens at the great daie of reuelation to giue sentence of condemnation against thy periurie And why O miserable man shouldest thou break thy faith giuen to God in baptisme it is not an oth to bee repented For the seruice of the Lorde is onelie mans safetie as the seruice of Satan is the only cause of mans miserie The gailor that helde vs in a slauishe and spirituall Aegypt was not Pharao but the diuel and that for sinne and therefore if we couet to inhabi◠the land of promise and to liue in libertie free from calamitie it standeth vs vppon to returne vnto the Lorde who is onelie able by
his outstretched arme to saue and defend vs from the myserable seruitude of so tyrannous a ruler Againe al the spirits in hell may cursse the filthie bondage of sinne by seruice whereof they are in torments and shall continue in paines vnspeakeable for euermore The saintes and holie ones of God are in blisse in ioy yea in such ioye as neyther eie hath seene nor eare heard nor hart euer conceiued And whie euen because they repented forsooke s 〈…〉 ne and did the will of God in heauen For they onlie haue entred and shall enter into the kingdome of heauen that doo the wil of our heauenly father Therefore sith his wil is our sanctification innocencie of life puritie in conuersation vprightnes of hart abstinence from the lustes of the fleshe if that wee hope to enioye the giue eare vnto his voice conforming of our selues vnto his steps as neere as we could Let not the loue of riches the desire of any worldly promotion or anye thinge vnder the sunne bee it neuer so glorious since the preacher cryeth out saith that al is vanitie blind the eies of your vnderstandings withdraw your affections or restraine and pul packe your harts from thinking vpon the torments in hell or the triumphes in heauen the one ap pointed as punishmente for wickednes and iniquitie the other assigned as rewardes for righteousnes and innocencie The Lord of his mercie so moisten our harts that al hardnes beeing taken awaie wee may with moste willinge consents ioyne handes with Iesus Christe our Capteine against Satan sinne the fleshe and the world which enimies doo bitterlie and also continuallye war against vs and far exceed our strength to resist them vnlesse that we forsake them and shrowd our selues vnder Iesus Christ to whom be al glorie both now and for euer Amen A praier vnto almightie God wherein we beseech his diuine maiestie so to blesse vs with his grace that the vse of the praiers conteined in this booke and the wholesome lessons comprised in the same may take Christian effect in vs to our great comfort euen at all assaies and espâ—icially in time of necessitie Made by A. F. O Father of endles mercy the fountayne and welspring of all perfect happines the giuer of grace the bestower of true blessednes felicity heere vs ô heare vs for thy bottomlesse compassion sake and grant vnto vs we hum bly beseech thee whatsoeuer wanteth in vs towardes the acomplishment of our calling and duty And because thy holye word the trumpet of truth treasure of great riches hathe in expresse speeche threatened manye stripes to that negligent seruaunt whiche knoweth thy will and yet doth it not vouchsafe vs and as manye of vs as are instructed taught and thereby perceiue and vnderstand thy heauenlye pleasure endeuouringe to walke thereafter maye auoid that penalty of negligence which is denounced against the idle seruant thy grace preuenting vs in all our actions and intents We can not denie but that the sayeng of thy welbeloued son the substance of truth and liuelye image of thine owne maiestie is vndoubted certaine and infallible namely that not euerye one whyche crieth Lord Lord shal enter into the kingdome of heauen but he which fulfilleth thy wil forsaking the world and all worldly pompe betaketh himselfe wholy vnto the seruice of thee and submitteth himself a scholler in thy schoole where learning sounde substantial knowledge he may be the more in loue with the riches of thy kingedome and bid al earthlie vanityes auant Now most mercifull Father for that the helpes to holines of life are infinite some and those singular consisting in thy Gospell preached some and those notable in sinceritie of conuersation and examples of godlines expressed some and those speciall in exhortations tending vnto Christianitie declared some and those heauenlie in praiers and supplications conteyned maye it please thee of thine vnspeakable goodnes ô mercifull Father to gyue vs grace so to imprinte them in our memories and to haue them sealed in our heartes that the course of our whole life may testifie to the world that thy gifts in vs are not voyd and frustrate barren and fruiteles vaine and vnused Least being otherwise it chaunce vnto vs as vnto him that knitting vpp his talent in a napkin hiding the same in the ground had not onlye the same taken from him but was also cast into vtter darknesse for his ydle nes vnprofitable seruice Among al which helps ô eternal God and faithfull ouerseer of our soules for that this whych wee haue in hande is not of least account since thereout wee sucke the sweet sap of com forte the assistance of thy spirite beeyng present with vs wee beseech thee with al submission to direct our vnderstandings to increase our faith to confirme our hope to kindle our zeale to guide all our affections and to gouerne the whole course of our life that exercisinge our selues in this or anye other godlye volume published for the edification of thy Church wee may vse it and them with integritie vprightnes of iudgement with deuotion voyd of hypocrisie with faithfull inuocation with humilitie and submission that inâ—ring our selues to praier vnfainedlie wee may obteine that whiche we pray for effectualy and for the same ministred vnto vs in time of necessitye with hart and voice extoll thy most dreadful maiesty to whome bee all honour glorie power and dominion euerlastinglie To this let all people say Amen most ioyfullie Amen FINIS ¶ A Catalog conteyning the seueral titles of euery praier and treatise comprised in this booke easie to be found by the true number of the page 1 THe first Morning praier pag. 1 2 Second morning praier 3 3 Third morning praier 6 4 Fourth morning praier 8 5 First euening praier 10 6 Second euening praier 13 7 Third euening praier 15 8 Fourth euening praier 17 9 A praier for all times against the power of Satan 19 10 Another 21 11 A praier for all afflicted Christians 23 12 Another 25 13 A generall Confession of sinnes 31 14 Another 33 15 A praier for humilitie 35 16 Another for charitie 37 17 A praier for the mortification of the flesh 40 18 Another 42 19 A praier for the obteining of grace 44 20 Another 46 21 A praier for patience in affliction 48 22 Another 50 23 A praier in time of persecution 52 24 Another 55 25 A praier againste the enymies of the truth 57 26 Another 59 27 A praier for the sicke 61 28 Another 64 29 A Confession for the sicke pag. 66 30 Another 68 31 A praier against desperation 70 32 Another 75 33 Another 78 34 A Praier for the auoidance of Gods wrath 80 35 A praier for remission of sinnes 82 36 Another 85 37 Another 87 38 A praier for increase of faith 89 39 A praier to bee sayde at the houre of death 123 40 A prayer for the truth pag. 125 41 A praier for peace 131 42 A praier in time of warre pag. 133 43 A praier in time of dearth pag. 139 44 A praier againste the feare of death 141 45 Another 146 46 Another 147 47 Another in forme of a confession 149 Peculiar Praiers appliable to particular persons of sundrie states and degrees 1 A Praier for the Queene pag. 27 2 A praier for all Maiestrates pag. 29 3 A praier for preachers 94 4 A praier for the increase of preachers 96 5 A praier for the Schoolmaister 98 6 Another 101 7 A praier for Schollers 103 8 The mothers praier for the good education of her youth 105 9 The fathers praier 107 10 The childes praier 109 11 The Husbandmans praier pag. 111 12 The maydseruants praier pag. 113 13 A praier for a woman with child 116 14 A praier for a Woman in trauel 118 15 A praier for the Prysoners pag. 121 16 A praier for the Ploughman 127 17 A praier for the blessing of his labour 129 18 A praier for the Captaine pag. 135 19 A praier for the Souldiour pag. 137 20 A praier for the Rich man pag. 158 21 Another 160 22 The beggers praier 162 23 Another 164 24 The widowes praier 166 25 The Tenants praier 168 26 The fatherles childs praier pag. 170 ⧠Fiue notable treatises and one deuout praier orderlie placed as they follow in the leafe 1 A Sword against the feare of death deuided into three weapons 173 The first weapon ibid. The Second weapon â—84 The Third weapon 203 2 A battell betweene the Dyuell and the Conscience pag. 213 The cal of Conscience in conflict for succour againste present danger 223 3 The deade mans School 225 4 A lodge for Lazarus 243 5 A retrait from sinne 285 6 A praier vnto Almightie God that the vse of this booke may be for our edification made by A. F. pag. 329 Glorie to God AMEN FINIS 1593. Imprinted at London by Richard Yardley and Peter Short for the assignes of W. Seres Cum priuilegio Regiae Maiestatis