of the worlde O holie ghost the sweet comforter O the diuine essence thrée persons and one God haue mercie vpon me most vile caitife and miserable sinner I haue offended both against heauen earth more than my toong can expresse Whither then may I go or whither should I flie To heauen I may be ashamed to lift vp mine eies and in earth I finde no place of refuge or succour To thée therfore O Lord do I come to thée doo I humble my selfe saieng O Lord my God my sinnes be great but yet haue mercy vpon me for thy great mercie The great mysterie that God became man was not wrought for little or few offences Thou diddest not giue thy sonne O heauenlie Father vnto death for small sinnes onelie but for all the greatest sinnes of the world so that the sinner returne to thee with his whole heart as by grace first receyued from thée I doo héer at this present Wherefore haue mercie vpon me O God whose propertie is alwaies to haue mercy haue mercie vppon mee O Lorde for thy great mercie I craue nothing O Lord for my owne merits but for thy names sake that it may be hallowed thereby and for thy déere son Iesu Christes sake And therfore I continue forth my crie vnto thee from the bottom of my heart saieng Our father which art in heauen hallowed be thy name c. Our Father TO none doth this name Father more truelie belong then vnto thée O God our father For both they which haue begotten vs fostered vs do bring vs vp and also our spirituall pastors which do instruct vs are called fathers But thou O Lord art the father of all creatures which are vpon the earth whome thou hast made of somewhat as thou madest man but of nothing which none else coulde do These thou dooest féede and preserue which else shoulde returne to their nothing againe These thou dooest gouerne teach and stirre vp to do their seuerall and proper offices Thou hast made all things therefore thou art the father of all but more speciallie man whom thou hast formed after thine owne similitude and image Thou dooest rule and gouerne all thinges as thy seruants but man as thy sonne To other liuing creatures thou hast giuen out of thy plentifull storehouse good giftes but vppon man thou hast powred them forth with full hande and hast adorned him with a liuing soule of all giftes one of greatest excellencie Thou doost driue forward al other creatuers as it were with a certain secret spurre but thou gently teachest and instructest vs. Other creatures thou dooest violentlie draw but vs thou doost fatherly teach and direct In al these fatherlie properties we wonder at thy power and adore and worship thy wisedome But amongst al thy fatherly mercies there is one which with great delectation wee consider as more profitable for vs namely our adoption by which thou hast made vs thy sonnes thorough Iesus Christ the sonne of the omnipotent essence and diuine nature Wonderfull is this goodnes of Christ and most swéet is his loue toward vs who wil not haue vs to be terrified with seruile feare and therefore hath not taught vs to cal thee his father Our lord which is a name of power but Our father which is a name of loue He concealeth thy greatnes and setteth forth thy goodnes the sooner to allure vs. What man considering rightlie his vile nature and corrupt will dare cal thee father except thou command him What vngratious and inferiour seruaunt will presume to call his king father except he be beside himselfe But how much greater difference is there betweene thée and vs then betweene a mortal king and a seruant which do not differ in condition of nature but onely in state of fortune We compared with thee in nature are most far different Thou art the essence and the incompresensible fulnes of all things which art all in all and wee are vtterlie nothing And in condition of worthinesse and excellencie wee being with thée compared are vnhappie and most miserable bondslaues of sin and the diuell which is the most vile and execrable state but thou art the most blessed lord of al. We are ignorance and darknesse but thou art wisedome and light Thy excellencie is infinit our shame and reproch more than can be expressed mans mind is not able to comprehend the difference betwéene thée and vs. But thy onlie sonne hath giuen vs boldnes to call thee Our father that we by adoption might be made partakers of that excellent dignitie to be called sonnes through his fauour and grace which he alone in right of his diuine nature possesseth Nowe howe more néerelie and trulie art thou the father of all those that are baptised in thy name and that are purged and clensed by the bloud of thy sonne Christ to whome beeing reconciled with thee and receiued into thy fauour thou hast giuen the earnest of Euerlasting blisse the loue of thee and an assured faith and confidence in thee and thereby perfect peace and rest of conscience Oh howe often do we féele to our great comfort thy fatherlie goodnesse Thou dooest giue vs light in darkenesse thou holdest vs vp when we stumble and are readie to fall thou turnest from vs manie wicked euils which hang ouer our heades and changest them into good and in all goodnes thou doost establish and preserue vs. What dooe our fathers helpe vs which are onelie fathers in name by whom wee haue nothing but that which hirelings and seruants haue that is to say the necessaries of this present life But this is the true fatherhood wherof we may rightlie reioyce by which we haue an euerlasting inheritance Oh woonderfull clemencie of thy son Christ which vouchsafed on vs the dignitie of his proper inheritance What wilt thou not giue O father vnto thy sons now which thou shalt thinke profitable for them We haue attained the greatest gifte that thou shouldest bee called and be indéed our father how then can we misse and bee destitute of thy fatherlie affection and liberalitie towardes vs And forasmuch as wee all which truelie are called Christians are knit togither in one knot of loue and are therfore members of one bodie and so one thing therefore that which wee aske for our selues wee craue of thee O Father for our brethren also And for this cause wee call thee iointlie togither Our father Beséeching thée that as thou vouchestsafe to be called of vs Our father so thou wilt make vs thy obedient children that not with mouth alone but with heart and mind wee may truelie feare thée serue thee loue thee and call thee our father to the honour and glorie of thy holie name Amen Which art in heauen THou art alone O Lord and we are not That being which we haue is heere in Earth that is to saie in the middest of manie tempestes and floudes of all manner of calamities wherewith we are continuallie turmoiled But thou both art and also
art in heauen that is to say in a place deuoyde of labour and trouble We do not cal vpon the dead saintes or vppon such as are not able to helpe themselues when they stand in néed Wee runne not vnto those which either for their care and office in the common wealth or for their age are called fathers We make not our petition to Iupiter to Neptune to Mars or to other vaine gods which Sathan the enimie of thy diuine maiestie hath set vp in the worlde whome once almoste to name is great wickednes being false gods opposed agaynst the greatnesse of thy goodnesse and wisdom Some thinke their riches in their chest or bestowed vpon possessions to bee their father which are subiect to a thousand chances perils Some think their power and might which standeth on the loue and fauour of their subiects to be their father then the which thing nothing is more instable Other some thinke the grace and fauor of the prince being a man and by nature mortall in power weake and in will mutable to bee their father Thus euerie one maketh that vanitie wherein he foolishlie trusteth to be his father But we vppon whome through thy rich liberalitie thou hast vouchedsafe the dignitie of sonnes lifting vppe our eies vnto heauen doo call thee our Father and doo beg and craue of thee which arte in heauen whose presence notwithstanding dooth fulfill the whole world But the seat of thy kingdome for the excellencie of the place is saide to bee fixed and sette in heauen This heauen for the forme and beautie thereof and also for the appointed order which keepeth continually a certaine course dooth shewe foorth the highnesse of thine essence the greatnes of thy power and the immortalitie of thy nature O miserable men which hauing gotten so great a Father doo runne as yet to other Fathers of whom they may bee ashamed and from whom we receiue nothing but infirmitie euill and miserie But from thée the true father commeth power goodnesse and felicitie I am able sayth thy Apostle to doe all things through the helpe of Christe which strengtheneth me And in another place complaning of his weaknes thou spakest to him from heauen saieng My grace is sufficient for thee for my power is made perfect through weakenesse Thou art in heauen for vs that wee may know there to find thee our Father and that there a refuge is prepared for vs of the which we can not be disappoynted neither by deceipt nor by the force of enimyes All thinges are there secure safe because thou art there Thou art a moste mightie king and omnipotent God And yet to manie héere on earth thou art neither a king nor a God For euerie one maketh a king and a god to himselfe after his owne fantasie O Father which art in heuen the maker of all things and moste mightie Lorde hear vs we beséech thee which are héere troubled and turmoiled in earth which are trauellers and pilgrimes therein not onelie for a time but for the most part for a small moment of time Our Father is in heauen therefore our inheritance and happinesse is there why then doo wee seeke it on earth where there is nothing to be found but the naturall fruits of the earth as sickenesses cares troubles sorrowes greefes and vexations Make vs O Lorde to séeke thée in the heauens of sempiternall rest where thou hast prepared for vs all blessedfulnes Lift vp our hearts O heauenlie Father wee beséech thee vnto those heauens and inflame our mindes with the loue and desire of those good thinges which thou hast there prepared for vs the greatnes excellencie where of surmounteth the vnderstanding capacitie of man For the which blessed bee thy name for euermore Amen 1 Hallowed be thy Name THat is the true proper name belonging to euerie thing by which name the vertue and inclination of the same thing is declared but who shall giue vnto thee O Lord a conuenient and proper name the greatnes of whose essence neither the mindes of men nor of angels is able to comprehende Yet wee vnderstande that to be thy name by which wee may best comprehende thee As when in thy worde thou art called Schaddai that is to saie All sufficient Iehouah that is to saie Of thy selfe euerlasting Thou art also called immortall the king the Lorde and the maker of all things Thou art called most righteous moste wise and the most mercifull Sauiour And therefore wee saie with the Prophet in the Psalme O God according vnto thy name so is thy praise vnto the worldes end Hallowed bee this thy name in vs O Father that wee maye thinke nothinge more sacred more holie and blessed than the same that we may worship thée and submit our selues onelie to thy name Sende downe wee beséech thee into our hearts thy heauenlie light of true knoledge that we may call vppon thee alone that wee may looke to be holpen by thy helpe and aid alone and that wee put not our trust in other momentanie temporall transitorie and deceyueable helpes but that we may haue our whole confidence onlie in thee which alone canst and wilt and art wont to helpe Glorifie thy name O Father in vs by the Gospell of thy sonne Christ and by the same also finishe the woorke which thou hast begun in vs that we may perseuere in the way of godlinesse to the ende of our life that so abiding in thy name wee may also bee sanctified by thée Sanctifie thy name so in vs O heauenly Father that we may be able to teach others not onelie in worde but also in example of godlie life that thy holie name bee not euill spoken of among the gentils who séeing our corrupte life maie take occasion thereby to condemne thy holy gospel because we which are the professors thereof are not hallowed in our conuersation But make our light so shine before men that they seeing our good works may glorifie thee our heauenlie Father And to the ende thy name may be magnified thoroughout the whole worlde make O Lord all those whom thou hast chosen partakers with vs of this felicitie Spread forth the bright beames of thy light vpon mankind illumine their mindes inflame their affections that all as it is méet and right may sanctifie thy name not in profession onely but also in the true loue of godlinesse For then shall thy name bee hallowed when thy sonne Iesus Christ our onelie Sauiour which is thy glorie is thus knowne To whome with thée and the holie ghost be all honour and glorie world without end Amen 2 Thy kingdome come RAigne thou O lord in vs rule and gouerne vs wee beséech thee for our subiection to thee is a moste happie fréedome By the fall of our first parents wee are made thrall to sinne death and the deuill the power of whose kingdome wee doo too often féele in vs. But thou hast ordained and appoynted thy beloued Sonne to treade down the
The Poore Mans Pater noster with a preparatiue to praier Wherto are annexed diuers godly Psalmes and Meditations Collected out of the sacred Scriptures by Thomas Timme Minister Newly Imprinted the second time by Peter Short dwelling on Bredstreet hill at the signe of the Starre 1598. The life of a Christian man 1 Remember thy maker 2 Be thankful alwaies to God for his benefits 3 Loue the Lord thy God with al thy soul and all thy strength 4 Beleeue that he is thy heauenly father for his sonne Iesus Christs sake 5 Serue him with feare worship him and call vpon his holy name 6 As thou louest God so loue thy brother also 7 Let the loue of God in thee restraine the concupiscence of the flesh and prouoke thee to good works Let the loue of thy brother hold thee backe from dooing iniurie and pricke thee forward to doo good And remember alwaies that thou art borne to die A Preparatiue to praier PRaier is a talking not of the toong but of a faithfull mind with God by when wee aske of him some good thing either for our selues or for some others or else doe giue him thankes for his benefites 2 When thou commest to pray first prepare thy minde that it may bee free from all worldlie cares and that the affections of thy minde may bee quiet for the place of the Lorde is not in commotions but in quiet and rest Reuerence 3 Remember the maiestie of him beefore whome thou standest whoe as hee is the maker of heauen and earth so also is he the mightie soueraigne ouer the whole world 4 Remember that his eye seeth all things yea euen the actions the secret thoughts of thy heart Deuotion 5 If thou praye with thy mouth not with thy minde thy praier shal be but a tempting of the Lorde and a sacrifice of fooles Humilitie 6 Praye in humilitie of minde shaking off all confidence of thine owne worthynes and say thus O Lord righteousnesse belongeth vnto thee and to vs open shame We do not present our supplications before thee for our owne righteousnes but for thy great tender mercies I haue begun to speake vnto my Lord I am but dust and ashes Father I haue sinned against heauen before thee and am no more worthie to bee called thy son O God be mercifull vnto mee a sinner 7 Pray not hypocriticallie to seeme deuout in the eyes of men but secretly and thy father which seeth in secret will reward thee openly Contrition 8 Pray with a contrite hart and sorrowfull minde when thou crauest of God remission of sinnes Fasting 9 When thou praiest fast and abstaine from carnall delightes for thereby thou shalt bee made more apte and feruent in praier Faith 10 Pray in faith and with a sure trust and confidence in God without the which thou shalt not obtaine For euerie one that commeth vnto God must beleeue that God is and that hee is a rewarder of them that seeke him 11 Lette him that asketh aske in fayth and wauer not for hee that wauereth is like a waue of the Sea tossed with the winde and let not that man thinke that hee shall receyue anie thinge from the Lord. 12 Faith is the gift of God Therefore praye daylie with the disciples of Christ which said Lord increase our faith Lord helpe my vnbeleefe 13 The true knowledge of God learned out of his word will greatlye confirme thy fayth As when thou shalte knowe that he is louing kind mercifull gratious long suffering iust c. Also that hee is most readie to heare vs and to grant our petitions 14 God is omnipotent therefore hee is able to giue whatsoeuer thou askest God is mercifull and therefore hee will giue that which is profitable for thee 15 God giueth liberallie to those that aske of him For Salomon craued but wisdom and had both it and riches and honor in wonderfull measure And Iehosaphat which desired onelye water in his extreame thirst for him and his hoast had both the same granted and victorie also ouer the Moabites 16 God seeth and knoweth thy neede before thou askest yet to shewe thy obedience by this seruice which hee hath commaunded and also to exercise thy fayth thou muste receyue those thinges whereof thou hast neede by inuocating and calling vppon his name New obedience 17 As thou doest professe thy selfe to bee the son of God by praying vnto him and by calling him thy Father so shewe thy selfe an obedient sonne in deed by walking in his commandements 18 Let thy whole cōuersation be agreeing with thy prayers for thy continuall walking in sin will make thy praiers abhominable 19 Pray for nothing contrarie to the will of God reuealed in his holie worde For if thou praye to this ende to haue the desires of thy fleshe fulfilled thou shalte not receyue 20 That thy principal mark may be the glorifieng of God Seeke first the kingdome of God and the righteousnesse thereof and all other thinges shall be giuen vnto thee Perseuerance in praier 21 Perseuere in prayer and bee not discouraged though at the first thy petition bee not graunted For the Lord dooth sometimes deferre and delaie vs not that hee is vnmindfull of his promises but to trie our faith either els the more to stir vp our godly affections or to make his giftes more sweete and precious vnto vs as appeareth by the woman of Canaan and by Paule himselfe 22 When our Sauior Christ forbiddeth much babling hee meaneth not long prayers but long babling withoute faith and the spirit For length of wordes ioyned with length of earnest affection dooth not displease God 23 Christ himselfe praied all the night vppon the mountaine and before his death hee made long praiers he commandeth vs to pray cōtinually The force of true praier 24 Great is the force of faithfull praier for therby Abraham obteined life for Ismael Lot that Zoar might not be burnt in the destruction of Sodome Moyses victorye agaynste the Amalachites Eliah both drouth and raine Ezechias the prolonging of his life fifteene yeeres and such like 25 Let prayer be thy refuge in all trouble and distresse Call vppon mee in the time of trouble saith the Lord so will I deliuer thee and thou shalt glorifie me 26 Hannah beeing contumeliously handled by Penninnah betaketh hir selfe to praier Sara the daughter of Raguel beeing reproched entereth into her Chamber and there maketh hir praier Dauid being persecuted saith thus For my friendship they were mine aduersaries but I gaue my selfe to praier 27 Praier thus prepared and practised will bee a gard for children an ornament for yoong men a solace and consolation for olde men and a surpassing beautie for women It will driue away diuels It will procure Angelles of defence from heauen and it will bee a sacrifice of a good sauour vnto God pearcing the heauens and will not returne againe emptie The praier of a penitent sinner O Father of heuen O sonne of God Redéemer
to loue thee aboue all things so thou wouldest that we loue our neighbours also not in word and toong but in deede and veritie Let this thy will good Father bee fulfilled in vs. And we heartilie praie thée that as in prosperitie we can bee well contented with thy wil so also whensoeuer it shall please thée either for the punishment of our sinnes either for the tryall and exercise of our fayth or for anie other cause as shal séem best to thy fatherlie wisdom to afflict vs with diseases with languishing sicknesses with iniuries and reproches with persecutions or any other crosse whatsoeuer we may patientlie and willinglie euen from our heart saie Thy will bee doone For if we bee not vnder chastisement whereof all thy children are partakers in this life then might we déeme our selues bastards and not sonnes And séeing thy onelie sonne our Sauiour in whose mouth there was no guile for vs miserable and sinfull men vouchedsafe to stand as a méeke lambe dumbe before the fleecer and opened not his mouth but bearing the chastisement of our peace in the moste bitter agonie of death when hee sweat water and bloud most mildelie submitted himselfe to thy holie will wee heartilie praie thee for the same our Christs sake that we may bee appliable to thy will in all thinges after the example of thy deer sonne and maie without murmuring or grudging vnfeinedlie say Thy will be done Jn earth as it is in heauen THe celestiall creatures O God are prest and readie to obaie thy diuine will and whatsoeuer thou commandest them they doo it speedilie Among which are thy angels who alwaies stood stedfast in thy truth since the first beginning and doe still stande in thy presence to serue thee as ministring spirits to defend and gard thine elect These angels doo reioise in heauen for the fulfilling of thy will in the conuersion and repentaunce of sinners yea so prompt is their seruice and so willing is their obedience that nothing is more pleasant vnto them then when thy will O God is performed and executed The blessed saints also departed this life in soule and spirit haue the fulnesse of ioy in thy presence and the pleasures also which are at thy right hand for euermore This thy wil hath brought to passe And therfore being frée from the cares and labours of this life they doo still execute thy holie will falling before thee which sittest in the heauenlie throne and worshipping thee which liuest for euermore and sayeng Thou art worthie O Lorde to receyue glorie and honoure and power for thou hast created all things and for thy wils sake they are and haue beene created As the angels and saints doo thus rest on thy will O God alone euen so other celestiall bodies also doo obeie the same The perpetuall motion and true course of the heauens the sunne the moone and the stars do continuallie kéepe their prescribed order whereunto thou hast appoynted them The temperate and flourishing springtide the hot and dry summer the fruit full haruest and the chilling cold winter haue their times and returnes from yeare to yeare according vnto thy diuine will In the execution whereof they haue thus continued more than fiue thousand and sixe hundred yeares and yet in that same remaineth and endureth still stable and firme Make in like manner O Heauenlie Father wee beséech thee our stubborne disobedient and rebellious wils pliant tractable and obedyent to thy most holie will O that this flesh putting off the olde Adam which is made of earth might submitte it selfe so willinglie vnto thy will as that inwarde manne dooth which is regenerate and illuminated by thy holie spirite and therefore with groanes and sighes desyreth to doo thy will O that it might please thee to breake in sunder for euer the bandes of sinne wherewith our spirit is tied that beeing frée wee might serue thee continuallie as thou wilt O Father wee heartilie praie thee and for Christs sake humblie beséech thee disburthen vs of this earth wherewith we are ouerwhelmed and make vs heauenlie that thy name maie bee sanctified in earth as it is in heauen that wee may desire thy kingdome to come in earth as it is in heauen that wee may will thy will to bee done in earth as it is in heauen that nowe here in earth wee may begin to bee such as one day through thy grace and mercy we shall bee in heauen Where wee shall for euer praise thee and our lord Iesus Christ to whome with the holie Ghost bee all honour and glory world with out end Amen 4 Giue vs this day our daily bread A prayer for all needfull thinges both for the soule and bodie WE are O Father in our selues miserable and néedie beggers but thou art rich in mercie to all that call vppon thee Out of thy heauenlie treasure therefore wee beseech thee plentifullie powre downe thy giftes vppon vs and especiallie giue vs that breade that heauenlie Manna the spirituall foode of our soules thy omnipotent word Iesus Christ by whose word and blessed spirit we are fedde comforted and euermore preserued to come vnto eternall life For thou hast so loued the worlde that thou hast giuen thy onelie begotten sonne that euerie one which beléeueth in him should haue euerlasting life This foode thou dooest giue of thy meere grace make vs by faith to take and digest it And to the end we may be the more able to go forwarde in that state of life where vnto thou hast called vs helpe O God our infirmities and sustaine our earthlie bodies with that corporall food which from sunne to sunne wee can not spare We depende O Lorde vpon thy fatherlie prouidence which openest thy handes and replenishest euerie liuing thing Thou féedest the yoong Rauens that call vpon thee Thou dooest minister food to the hungrie lions when they roare after their prey and thou doost cloth and apparell the lillies and grasse of the field Therfore we humblie beséech thee let thine eie attend vpon vs to féede cherrish and preserue vs in such wise that wee may bee more apt to glorifie thy holy name Break this bread O Father to thy sonnes and giue it vnto them at such time and in such measure as is most méet and conuenient for them so shall it be most swéete and sauorie and wholsom for the children Thou onelie canst giue it thou onelie knowest howe to giue it thou onely art woont to giue it and wilt giue it still vnto thy children in the best measure If thou giue it not wee cannot haue it For who is he among the sons of men that can make the smallest graine of wheat or other seed to growe or the least hearbe to spring without thee It is thou O Lord that doost make the grasse to grow for cattell and herbe for the vse of men It is thou that giuest bread wine to strengthen and make glad the heart of man and Oyle also to make him haue a
temptations of Sathan vnlesse thou O most mightie protector defend vs alas we perish For thou knowest our weaknesse and how vnable we be to resist so subtill and strong an enimie But thou hast brused in péeces that monstrous Leuiathan and hast brought vnder foote the mightie and strong Goliah which vpbraided thine hoast Thou hast by thy sonne our Sauiour that blessed séed broken the hed of the most subtill serpent who came in the flesh to destroy the workes of the diuell with whom he encountred in temptations most victoriouslie ouercame him and on his crosse openlie tryumphed ouer him to purchase a crowne for vs. By this thy victorie so obtained O heauenlie father wee beseech thee holde him fast bounde that he maie not execute his tyrannie vpon vs as he desireth that although he séeke to sift vs like wheate yet thorough thy grace wee may bee able to stand Let vs not be tempted O Lorde beyond our strength but in the middest of temptation make a waie for vs whereby wee may escape with victorie for thou knowest how to deliuer thy children out of temptation Preuent vs O Father with thy heauenly grace that wee take no truce or peace with this our ghostlie enimie but that wee maie manfullie fight vnder thy standert agaynst sinne our flesh the worlde and the diuell all the dayes of our life that there may bee continuall enmitie betwéene the womans seede and the serpent for euer that at the last the dreadfull redde dragon may be ouercome by the blood of the lambe Mortifie this flesh of ours O Lord with thy holie spirit with all the lustes and concupiscences therof that we may the better serue thee Subdue our carnall reason and vnder standing to the obedience of faith that we followe not our owne fantasies but may depend wholie vpon thy worde Giue vs a right iudgement to discerne and iudge of this worlde that wee may rather hate than loue it and rather abhor it than followe the example thereof Turne awaie our eies O Lord that we look not after vanitie Stop our eares from all alluring entisements and temptations to euil and refraine our toong from filthie communication that wee maie speake onelie such things as serue to the edification and profitte of our brethren Make vs to loue sobrietie in our apparell and temperance in all our meats and drinkes that wee being in all our actions euermore directed and gouerned by thy good spirit wee may glorifie thy holie name Giue vnto vs O heauenly father all thy armour that like right soldiours wee maie ouercome in the euill daie vanquish our enemie Gird vs therefore with the truth put vpon vs the brestplate of righteousnesse and let vs bee shod to the preparing of the gospell of light Aboue all things O God giue vs the shield of faith which can extinguish all the fierie darts of wicked spirits Bestow vpon vs the helmet of saluation and the sworde of the spirit which is thy word that throgh thee wee maie encounter valiantlie and gloriouslie attaine the victorie Deliuer vs O Lorde our God from all euill that wee may serue thée and consecrat our soules and bodies yea all our members to be seruants of righteousnes vnto sanctification that wee maie wholie and trulie serue honour and praise thee our most louing father heere in the kingdome of grace and after this life in the kingdom of glory Amen ¶ For thine is thy kingdome the power and the glorie for euer and euer Amen THou O Father art king of Heauen and of earth and of all things in them contained For thou hast prepared thy throne in heuen and thy kingdome ruleth ouer all as thou hast made all thinges by thy worde and breath of thy mouth so thou doost still rule and gouerne all things Thou sittest vppon the circle of the earth and the inhabitantes thereof are as grashoppers thou stretchest foorth the heauens like a curtaine and spreadest them out like a tent to dwell in Thou makest Pleiades and Orion and turnest the shadowe of death into the morning and makest the daie as darke as night thou callest the waters of the sea and powrest them out vpon the open earth the Lord is thy name Thou dooest lighten and thunder from heauen and doost moderate all the influences of the heauens Thou art the Lord of hosts the strong and mightie Lorde of battaile and the king of glorie Thou deposest and settest vp kinges at thy pleasure And although thy seat be in heauen yet thou humblest thy selfe to beholde the things that are doone in earth Insomuch that thy prouidence extendeth it selfe to sparrowes to rauens to the lillies of the field yea to the haires of our head so that they cannot fall but at thy pleasure Thou art the father whose name ought to be sanctified in all things Thou art the king which oughtest to raigne euerie where and in all thinges thy will alone ought to bee doone in heauen and in earth Thou alone dooest féede all thinges with thy daylie bread Thou alone dooest forgiue vs all our sinnes and thou onelie turnest all euill temptations whatsoeuer they be from vs. Thou alone dooest euermore arme and defend vs from all the trappes assaultes and snares of that foule feend and ghostly enimie the diuell as the onelie and mightie Lorde of hostes to whome all Angels whether they bee good or bad do obey Thou art also omnipotent O Lord in this thy kingdom For thou O God art in heauen and dooest whatsoeuer thou wilt If thou determine a thing who shall disanull it and if thy hande bee stretched out who shall turne it awaie All vnder the heuens is thine and thou art present euerie where To thee therefore we flie for succour and to thee wee make our prayers ascrybing vnto thee alone all glorie maiestie For thou Lord art a iealous God and wilt not giue the glorie of thy name vnto another Make thy power O God knowne to the sons of men and the glorious renowme of thy kingdome For thy kingdome is an euerlasting kingdome and thy dominion endureth throughout all ages euen for euer and euer We beseech thee therefore O heauenlie father to heare our supplications and grant that as thy promises in Christ to vs ward are yea and Amen that is most certaine and assured so also our praiers may with thee be yea and Amen that fauourably allowed and firm lie ratified for thy son Christs sake to whome with thee and the holie ghost be all honour and power and glorie worlde without end Amen A Meditation vpon the Lordes prayer O Almightie and eternal God which dooest vouchsafe that we as it wer heauenlie children shoulde euerie one of vs call thee our heauenlie father grant that amongst vs by purenesse and example of godlie and innocent life thy most holy name may bee sanctified that all other nations beholding our goodnes and vertuous liuing maie be stirred to hallow and glorifie thee Grant O Lorde that the kingdome of
daies of my life Another confession of sinnes I Thy poor creature vnworthie to appeare before thy mightie maiesty O moste gracious Lorde doo powre downe euen heere before thee my sacke that is full with sinnes which I haue committed euen from my youth They are great and manie without number Neuerthelesse trusting of thine accustomed and naturall propertie to bee mercifull to all sinners that beeing sorie for the committing of their offences with all their hearts call and turne to thee acknowledging and knowing that thou diddest not sende thy louing sonne to call those that seeme in their owne conceits to be iust but to call those to repentance which confesse themselues to bee sinners I therfore Lord willing by the helpe of thy grace vtterlie to forsake sinne and to fulfill thy holie will héereafter desire thee humblie of forgiuenes and to admit me among the number of those that are blessed and their vnrighteousnesse forgiuen I will not hide from thee my sinnes neither yet excuse them But I praie thee gratious Lorde and most louing Father to hide them in the bloody wounds of thy Sonne Christ where they shall bee put in perpetuall obliuion For who so couereth his owne iniquitie thou wilt discouer it to all the worlde at the daie of iudgement to his shame Thou wilt then haue him stripped as naked as hee was borne that is his shame shall not be hid but manifest to all men in that day Wherfore I will not hide my wound my selfe to the intent thou my good Surgeon maiest lay a playster theron to couer it betime that the deuill mine enimie neuer espie where it was A praier to be said before the receiuing of the holy Communion O Lord although I be not worthie to receiue thee into the house of my soule for mine innumerable offences and sinnes doone against thy great goodnes yet trusting good Lorde in thy great pittie and infinit mercie I come to receiue thy blessed bodie as a sicke creature to thee that art the health of life vncleane to thee that art the well of mercie blinde by ignorance to thée that art the light euerlasting néedie of grace and poore in vertue to thee that art the king of heauen and earth naked of good workes to thée that art the author of grace I come as a wretch to thee my Lord and maker all desolate and comforties thou that art my helpe and succour for besides thee there is no consolation I come as a sinner vnto thee that art the mediator and meane between God and man I come as a caitife to thee my most mercifull sauiour I come all sinfull vnto thée the granter of remission and pardon dead by sinne to thee the restorer of life euill to thee that art all goodnesse hard hearted to bee relieued by the infusion of superabundant grace beseeching and desiring thee most méekelie to heale mine infirmitie and sickenesse to wash and clense awaie all my sinnes and filthinesse and to lighten my blindnesse and reduce mee into the right waie for I am out thereof to comfort mee being desolate and without anie one poynt of goodnesse Haue mercie on my wickednes pardon my sinfulnesse giue mee the light of grace buried drowned in sin that I may receiue thee the foode of angels the king of glorie the Lorde of all lordes with such chastitie of bodie with such purenesse and cleannesse of soule with such contrition of heart and abundance of wéeping teares with such spirituall ioy and gladnes with such dread and reuerence with such faith hope and charitie with such obedience and humilitie with such loue and deuotion faithfulnesse thankfulnesse as it is beséeming for such a Lord to be receiued and to my soule most expedient And bee not displeased good lord that I a sinner with an vncleane hart and polluted minde come hither this daie to receiue thy precious bodie in sacramentall bread wine but remember merciful Lord thou that refusedst not the sinfull Magdalen being penitent from the kissing of thy blessed feet And in like wise despise mee not nor put thou me away as vnworthie from the receiuing of thy bodie in the blessed sacrament for my sins and vnkindnesse but grant thou me compunction of heart plentie of wéeping teares to wash my sins and wickednesse so that with a pure heart and cleane conscience I maie this daie receiue the Sacrament to my soules health that I may obteine and possesse therby euer lasting life with all holie saints in heauens glorie and in this present life to be replenished with thy holie spirite and neuer to admit other louer besides thee Grant me blessed Iesu for to receiue the sacrament of bread and wine that I maie be worthie to be counted for a member of thy mysticall body here in earth and though as yet I bee not anie way worthie to be numbred amongest the simplest and lowest of thy seruants but rather to be reiected and cast out for my simplenes yet good Lorde for thine infinite power thou make me equall and like to the merits of thine elect and chosen seruantes Come thou Father of the fatherlesse comfort of the comfortlesse come and clense my soule from all contagiousnes of sinne for it is not conuenient and according there to bee anie vncleannesse where thou the spouse of virginall chastitie should come in and dwell Come apparell my soule with such ornaments of vertue and grace that it may delight thée therein to dwel and abide And as thou disdainest not to touch the sore leapers with thy holie hande so good Lorde vouchsafe to annoint my simple soule with the ointment of remission and pardon that in this life by stedfast hope firme faith and perfect charitie I may so increse in vertue from daie to daie that I may attaine to the glorious fruition of thy godhed in the kingdome of heauen where I may see thée face to face worlde without ende Amen A thankesgiuing after the receiuing of the Communion I Thanke thee good Lord of thine infinit goodnes that thou this day hast fedde mee with thy bodie and bloud in the Sacrament desiring thee méekelie that this Sacrament which I haue receiued may be to mee a purgation and cleansing of my sinnes a fortitude and spirituall strength against my frailtie and sure defence agaynst worldlie troubles a purchasing of grace and pardon a medicine of life and a continuall remembrance of thy passion so that in the waie it may conduct and guide mee when I am out of the way it may reduce mee when I stumble it may vpholde me and when I am fallen it may raise me so that by good continuance in thy will to euerlasting glorie it may bring me and so to order the tallage and taste of my heart that I nere féele other swéetnes but thee that I neuer séeke other loue but thee nor none other comforter besides thée so that I care for none other honour but thine And giue me such a perfect loue