plainly see our saluation past recouerie Shew vs the way wherein we may safely go and teach vs the manner how to performe thy wyll and with thy holy spirit that procedeth from thee gouerne all our doings thoughts through Iesus Christ our lord Amen * §§* ⧠Here beginneth the Letany and Suffrages O God the father of heauen haue mercy vpon vs miserable sinners O God the father of hea c. O God the sonne redemer of the world haue mercy vpon vs miserable sinners O God the sonne redemer of c. O God the holy Ghost proceding from the father and the sonne haue mercy vpō vs miserable sinners O God the holy Ghost proceding c. O holy blessed and glorious Trinity thre persons and one God haue mercy vpon vs miserable sinners O holy blessed and glorious c. Remember not Lord our offences nor the offences of our forefathers neyther take thou vengeance of our sins Spare vs good Lord spare thy people whom thou hast redemed with thy most precious bloud and be not angry with vs for euer Spare vs good Lord. From all euill and mischiefe from sinne from the craftes and assaultes of the deuill frō thy wrath and from euerlasting damnation Good Lord deliuer vs. From all blindnes of hart frō pride vayne glory and hipocrisy from enuy hatred and malice all vncharitablenes Good Lord deliuer vs. From fornicatiō and all other deadly sinne and from all the deceites of the world the flesh and the Deuill Good Lord deliuer vs. From lightninges and tempestes from plague pestilence and famine from battaile and murder from sodaine death Good Lord deliuer vs. From all sedition and priuie conspiracie from all false doctrine and heresy frō all hardnes of hart and contempt of thy word commaundement Good Lord deliuer vs. By the mistery of thy holy incarnation by thy holy Natiuitie and circumcision by thy Baptisme fasting and temptation Good Lord deliuer vs. By thyne agony and bloudy sweat by thy crosse and passion by thy precious death and buriall by thy glorious resurrection and ascension and by the comming of the holy Ghost Good Lord deliuer vs. In al time of our tribulation in all tyme of our wealth in the houre of death and in the day of iudgement Good Lord deliuer vs. Me sinners do beseche thee to heare vs O Lorde God and that it may please thee to rule and gouerne thy holy Church vniuersally in the right way We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to keepe and strengthen in the true worshipping of thee in righteousnes and holynes of life thy seruant Elizabeth our most gracious Queene and gouernour We beseech thee to heare vs. c. That it may please thee to rule her hart in thy faith feare and loue that she may euermore haue affiaunce in thee and euer seeke thy honor and glory We beseech thee to heare vs. c. That it may please thee to be her defender and keeper geuing her the victory ouer all her enemyes We beseech thee to heare vs. c. That it may please thee to illuminate all Bishoppes Pastoures and ministers of the Church wyth true knowledge vnderstanding of thy word and that both by their preachyng and lyuyng they may set it forth and shew it accordingly We beseech thee to heare vs. c. That it may please thee to indue the Lordes of the Counsell and all the nobility with grace wisdome and vnderstanding We beseech thee to heare vs. c. That it may please thee to blesse and keepe the Maiestrates geuing them grace to execute iustice and to mayntayne truth We beseech thee to heare vs. c. That it may please thee to blesse and keepe all thy people We beseech thee to heare vs. c. That it may please thee to geue to al nations vnity peace and concord We beseech thee to heare vs. c. That it may please thee to geue all thy people encrease of grace to heare meekely thy worde and to receiue it with pure affection and to bring forth the fruites of the spirit We beseech thee to heare vs. c. That it may please thee to bring into the way of truth all such as haue erred and are deceaued We beseech thee to heare vs. c. That it may please thee to strenghthen such as do stand and to comfort and helpe the weake harted and to rayse vp them that fall and finally to beate downe Sathan vnder our feete We beseech thee to heare vs. c. That it may please thee to succour helpe and comfort all that be in daunger necessitie and tribulation We beseech thee to heare vs. c. That it may please thee to preserue all that trauell by land or by water all women labouring with childe al sicke persons and yong children and to shew thy pitie vpon all prisoners and captiues We beseech thee to heare vs. c. That it may please thee to defend and prouide for the fatherles children and widowes and all that be desolate and oppressed We beseech thee to heare vs. c. That it may please thee to haue mercy vpon all men We beseech thee to heare vs. c. That it may please thee to forgeue our enemyes persecutors and slaunderers and to turne their hartes We beseech thee to heare vs. c. That it may please thee to geue and preserue to our vse the kindly fruites of the earth so as in due tyme we may enioy them We beseech thee to heare vs. c. That it may please thee to geue vs true repentance to forgeue vs al our sinnes negligēces and ignorances and to endue vs with the grace of thy holy spirite to amend our liues according to thy holy worde We beseech thee to heare vs. c. ¶ Sonne of God we beseche thee to heare vs. Sonne of God we beseech thee to heare vs. O lambe of God that takest away the sinnes of the world Graunt vs thy peace O lambe of God that takest away the sinnes of the world Haue mercy vpon vs. O Christ heare vs. O Christ heare vs. Lord haue mercy vpon vs. Lord haue mercy vpon vs. Christ haue mercy vpon vs. Christ haue mercy vpon vs. Lord haue mercy vpon vs. Lord haue mercy vpon vs. ¶ Our father which art c. And lead vs not into tēptatiō But deliuer vs from euill Amen ¶ The virsicle O Lord deale not with vs after our sinnes Aunswere Neither reward vs after our iniquities Let vs pray O God mercifull father that dispisest not the sighing of a contrite hart nor the desire of such as be sorowfull mercfully assist our prayers that we make before thee in al our troubles aduersities whensoeuer they oppresse vs and gratiously heare vs that those euils which the craft and subtiltie of the Deuil or mā worketh agaynst vs may be brought to nought by the prouidence of thy goodnes they may be dispersed that we thy seruauntes
CHRISTIAN Prayers and Meditations in English French Italian Spanish Greeke and Latine IMPRINTED at London by Iohn Daye An. 1569. IESSE DAVID SALOMŌ ABIA 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 IORAM OSIAS IOATAM AHAS ESECHIA Manss◠E R HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE Elizabeth Regina 2. PARALIPOM 6. Domine Deus Israel non est similis tui Deus in coelo in terra qui pacta custodis misericordiam cum seruis tuis qui ambulant coram te in toto corde suo ⧠Prayers to be sayd in the mornyng and first when you awake out of your sleepe pray thus MOste mercifull God and father of our Sauior Jesus Christ I moste humbly thanke thee for the sweete sleepe and comfortable rest which thou hast geuen me this night past besechyng thee that lyke as thou hast now awaked my body from sleepe so thou wouldest awake my soule from the slepe of sinne and darkenes of thys world and that which thou hast now awaked out of slepe thou wouldest after deathe wherof this sleepe is but an image restore rayse agayne to life euerlasting Oh gracious God make my body I hartely pray thee such a companion or rather a minister of godlines to my soule this day and all the tyme of this present lyfe that in the lyfe to come it may be pertaker with the same of euerlasting happines thorough Jesus Christ our Lord. * Awake thou that sleepest and arise from the dead and Christ shall shew light vnto thee Eph. 5 ¶ Occasions to meditate HEre call to mynd the great mirth and blessednes of the euerlasting resurrectiō Also remember to muse vpō that most clere light that bright mornyng and new clearenes of our bodies after the long darknes which they haue bene in All then shall be ful of vnspeakable ioyes and felicitie ⧠When you behold the day light pray O Lord God thou most glorious true lyght from whēce this light of the day sunne doth spring and shyne vnto vs O lyght which lightnest euery mā that commeth into this world O light which knowst no night nor euening but art alway a midday most cleare and fayre without whome all is most horrible darknes and by whō all things are most splendent O thou wisdome of the eternall father of mercies lighten my mynd that I may see those thynges onely which please thee and may be blynded to all other thynges Graunt me so to walke in thy wayes by the light of thy holy worde that nothing els may be lyght and pleasaunt vnto me * Lighten mine eyes O Lorde that I sleepe not in death least mine enemies say I haue preuailed against him Psal 30. ¶ Occasions to meditate MVse a while how much the light and eye of the mynde and soule is better then of the body Also how much more we ought to care for the soule that it may see wel then for the body Moreouer that beastes haue bodely eyes as well as men but men only haue eies of the mind and that such as are godly wise ⧠When you arise pray OVr first parentes cast downe themselues from a most excellent high honorable estate in to shame and misery and in to the deepe sea of all wickednesse and mischiefe but oh Christ thou puttyng forth thy hande didst rayse them vp agayne Euen so we except we be raysed vp by thee shall lye still for euer O good Christ our most gracious redemer as thou doost mercifully rayse vp now this my body euen so I beseeche thee rayse vp my mynde and harte to the true knowledge and loue of thee that my conversation may be in heauen where thou art * If you be risen with Christ thinke vpon those thinges that be aboue Colloss 3. ¶ Occasions to meditate THinke how foule the fall of Adam was by reason of sinne and so of euery one of vs from the height of gods grace Againe thinke vppon the inestimable benefite of Christ by whose helpe we daily arise agayne from our fallynges ⧠When you are made redy to begin the day withall pray O Almighty God most mercifull father thou knowest hast taught vs also somethyng to knowe that the weaknes of man and woman is great that without thy grace they can neither do nor thinke any good thing Haue mercy vpon me I hūbly beseche thee thy most weake fraile and vnworthy chylde Lighten my mynde that I may with pleasure looke vpon good thinges onely Enflame my hart with the loue therof that I may carefully couete them and at the last by thy gracious cōducting may happely attayne them thorough Jesus Christ our Lorde I distrustyng altogether myne owne weakenes commende and offer my selfe both soule and body into thy handes * Thy louyng spirite leade me forth into the lande of righteousnes Psal 143. ⧠Cogitations meete to begin the day withall THinke first that man consisteth of soule body and that the soule is from heauen heauenly firme and immortall but the body is from the earth earthly fraile and mortall Agayne thinke that though by reason of sinne wherein you are conceyued and borne the partes of the soule which do vnderstand and desire be so corrupte that without speciall grace to both partes you can neither know nor loue any good thyng in gods sight much lesse then do that is good yet this notwithstandyng thynke that you are regenerate by Christes resurrection which your baptisme requireth you to beleue and therefore to do also some good in the sight of God through Christ for whose sake our poore doynges are accepted for good the euill and infirmitie cleauing therunto not beyng imputed through faith Thinke that by fayth which is gods séede for they which beleue are of God and made Gods children geuen to those that be ordeyned to eternall life thinke I say that by fayth you receiue more and more the spirit of sanctification through the vse of Gods worde and sacramentes and earnest prayer to illuminate your minde vnderstanding iudgement and reason and to bow forme frame and inflame your affections with loue and power to do that that good is and therfore vse you the means aforesaid accordingly Thinke that by this spirite you are thorough faith coupled to Christ as a liuely member and so to God and as it were made one with hym and by loue which springeth out of this faith you are made one also with all that be of God and so you haue fellowship with God and all good men that euer were or shall be in all the good that God and all his saintes haue or shall haue Thinke that as by faith and loue through the spirite of God you are now entred into this communion the blessednes whereof no tounge can expresse so after thys lyfe you shall first in soule and in the last day in body also enioy for euer the same societie most perfectly which now is but begonne in you Thinke in consideration of your heauenly estate how your body is the temple of
humilitie and payedst the price of our raunsome by thy most bitter death and passion for the which I most hartely geue thankes to thee so of the same thy loue towardes vs in thy good time thou wilt come againe in the cloudes of heauen with power and great glory with flaming fire with thousandes of saintes with angels of thy power with a mighty cry shoute of an Archangell and blast of a trumpe sodenly as a lightning which shineth from the East c. when men thinke least euen as a thiefe in the night when mē be a slepe thou wilt so come I say thus sodainly in the twincklyng of an eie all men that euer haue bene be and shall be with women and children appearyng before thy tribunall iudgemēt seat to render an accompt of all thinges which they haue thought spoken and done against thy law openly and before all Aungels saintes and Deuils and so to receiue the iust reward of thy vengeaunce if that they haue not repented obeyed the gospell and so depart from thee to the Deuill his angels and all the wicked which euer haue bene be or shall be into hell fire which is vnquencheable and of paynes intolerable easeles endeles hopeles euen from the feare of thy glorious mighty power But if they haue repented and beleued thy gospel if they be found watching with their lampes oyle in their handes if they be found ready appareled with the wedding garmēt of innocency if they haue not hardened their hartes hourded vp the treasure of thy vengeaunce in the day of wrath to be reuealed but haue vsed the tyme of grace the acceptable tyme the time of saluatiō that is the time of this lyfe in the which thou stretchest out thy hande and spreadest thine armes calling and crying vnto vs to come vnto thee which art meeke in hart and lowly for thou wilt ease all that labour and are heauy loden if they haue visited the sicke and prisoners comforted the comfortlesse fedde the hungry clothed the naked lodged the harbourles if they haue not loden their hartes with glotony and surfeting and carefulnes of this life if they haue not digged and hid their talent in the ground doing no good therwith but haue bene faithfull to occupy thy gifts to thy glory and here washed their garmentes in thy bloud by harty repentance then shal thy aungels gather them together not as the wicked which shall be collected as fagots cast into the fire but as the good wheate that is gathered into thy barne then shall they be caught vp to meete thee in the clouds then shall their corruptible body put on incorruption then shall they be indued with immortality and glory then shall they be with thee and goe whether thou goest then shal they heare Come blessed of my Father possesse the kingdome prepared for you from the beginning c. then shall they be set on seates of maiestie iudging the whole worlde then shall they raigne with thee for euer then shall God be all in all with them and to them thē shal they enter and enherite the heauenly Jerusalem and the glorious restfull land of Canaan where is alwayes day and neuer night where is no maner of weping teares infirmitie hunger colde sickenes enuy malice nor sinne but alwayes ioy wtout sorow mirth without measure pleasure wtout paine heauenly harmony most pleasant melody saying and singing holy holy Lorde God of hostes c. Finally the eye hath not seene the eare hath not heard neither hath it entred into the harte of man that they shall then enherite and most surely enioy althogh here they be tormented prisoned burned sollicited of Sathan tempted of the flesh and entangled with the worlde wherethrough they are enforced to cry Thy kingdome come Come Lord Iesu c. How amiable are thy tabernacles Lyke as the harte desireth the water brookes c. Now let thy seruaunt departe in peace I desire to be dissolued and to be with Christ We mourne in our selues wayting for the deliueraunce of our bodies c. Oh gracious Lord when shall I find such mercy with thee that I may repent beleue hope and looke for these thinges with the full fruition of those heauenly ioyes which thou hast prepared for all thē that feare thee and so rest with thee for euermore ⧠A meditation concerning the lyfe euerlastyng the place where it is and the incomparable ioyes therof THat there is an enerlasting life none wil deny but such as wil deny God For if he be true iust which he must needes be or els he is not God then can there not be but an eternall life That he hath both spoken it and promised it in Math. 25. 1. Cor. 16. Hebr. 4. 11. 13. 1. Petr. 1. it plainly appeareth and els where in very many places So that to deny an euerlasting lyfe is to deny God to deny Christ and all that euer he did also to deny all pietie religion to condemne of foolishnes all good men martyrs confessors Euangelistes Prophetes Patriarckes Finally the deniall of eternal life is no thing els but a deniall of the immortalitie of the soule and so a plaine making of man no thing better then beastes If it be so let vs then eate and drinke for to morow we shall die Lord preserue vs frō this Saduceal and Epicureall impietie and graunt vs for thy mercies sake deare God that we may be assuredly perswaded that there is in deede an eternall life and blisse wyth thee for them that put their trust in thee amongst whome accompt me for thy mercies sake Agayne this eternall lyfe and the place appoynted for them that be thy seruauntes all men do graunt to be wyth thee Albeit they do not think that because thou art euery where therfore eternall life is euery where For they by thy worde do know that in as much as no man can see thee and liue this eternall lyfe and thy blessed presence is most pleasant and had in fruition after in an other world wher unto by corporall death they do depart and are translated to a place aboue them where thou dwellest in a light whervnto no man can approche Abrahams bosome they read was aboue as the place for the wicked was a lowe and beneath Helias was caught vp into heauen and thy sonne our deare sauiour prayed that where he is those also might be which thou hadst geuē him and might se his glory Now he deare father we learne by thy spirite was ascended and taken vp in his very body into heauen whether Steuen loked vp and sawe thy Christ standing on thy right hand to whom he prayed Oh Lorde Iesu receiue my spirite Graunt I beseche thee gracious god and father that I may haue a cleane hart more more to see thee and so in spirite to see and loke often vpō this place whether bring me at the length in body also I humbly pray thee Now what a thyng this
to reuerence magnifie thy godly maiestie First for that thou hast created vs to thine owne Image and similitude but chiefly because thou hast deliuered vs frō that euerlasting death and damnation into the which Sathan drew mankind by the meanes of sinne from the bondage wherof neyther man nor Angell was able to make vs free but thou O Lorde riche in mercy and infinite in goodnes hast prouided our redemption to stand in thine onely and welbeloued sonne whom of very loue thou didst geue to be made man like vnto vs in all thinges sinne excepted that in hys body he might receaue the punishment of our transgression by hys death to make satisfaction to thy iustice and by hys resurrection to destroy him that was author of death and so to bring againe life to the worlde from which the whole ofspring of Adam was most iustly exiled O Lord we acknowledge that no creature was able to comprehend the length and breadth the deepenes and height of that thy most excellent loue which moued thee to shewe mercy where none was deserued to promise and geue lyfe where death had gotten victory to receaue vs into thy grace when we could doe nothing but rebell against thy maiestie O Lord the blind dulnes of our corrupt nature will not suffer vs sufficiently to weigh these thy most ample benefites yet neuertheles at the commaundement of Jesus Christ our Lorde we present our selues to thys hys table which he hath left to be vsed in remembraunce of hys death vntill hys comming agayne to declare and witnes before the world that by hym alone we haue receaued libertie and life that by hym alone thou doest acknowledge vs to bee thy children and heyres that by hym alone we haue entrance to the throne of thy grace that by him alone we are possessed in our spirituall kingdome to eate and drinke at his table with whom we haue our conuersation presently in heauen and by whom our bodyes shall be raised vp agayne from the duste and shall bee placed with hym in that endles ioy which thou O father of mercy hast prepared for thine elect before the foundation of the world was layde And these most inestimable benefites we acknowledge and confesse to haue receaued of thy free mercy and grace by thine onely beloued sonne Jesus Christ For the which therfore we thy congregation moued by thy holy spirite render to thee all thankes praise and glory for euer and euer ¶ A thankesgeuing after the receauiug of the holy Communion TOst mercifull father we render vnto thee all prayse thankes honour glory for that it hath pleased thee of thy great mercies to graunt vs miserable sinners so excellent a gift and treasure as to receaue vs into the fellowship company of thy deare sonne Jesus Christ our Lord whom thou hast deliuered to death for vs hast geuen hym vnto vs as a necessary foode and nourishment vnto euerlasting lyfe And now we besech thee also O heauenly father to graunt vs thys request that thou neuer suffer vs to become so vnkind as to forget so worthy benefites but rather imprint and fasten them sure in our hartes that we may grow encrease dayly more and more in true fayth which continually is exercised in all maner of good workes and so much the rather O Lord confirme vs in these perillous dayes and rages of Sathan that we may constantly stand and continue in the confession of the same to the aduauncemēt of thy glory which art God ouer al things blessed for euer So be it ¶ A Prayer for wisedome to gouerne the Realme ALmightie God King of all Kinges Lorde of heauē earth by whose ordinaunce Princes haue gouernance of mortal mē wheras the wisest King Salomon plainly confesseth him self vnable to gouerne his kingdome without thy helpe assistance how much lesse shall I thy handmaide being by kinde a weake womā haue sufficient abilitie to rule these thy kingdomes of England and Ireland an innumerable warlike nation or how shall I possibly be able to beare the infinite weight of so great a burden vnlesse thou O most mercifull father as thou hast of thine own liberalitie without my deseruing and agaynst the expectation of many geuen me a kingdome and made me to reigne doe also in my reigning endue and helpe me with thy heauenly grace without which none euen the wisest among the childrē of men can once thinke a right thought Thou therefore O endlesse foūtaine of all wisedome send downe from thy holy heauen and frō the soueraigne throne of thy maiestie thy wisedome to be euer with me and alway to assist me to watch and labour with me in gouerning the common weale and that it may so teach and instruct me thy hādmaide that I may discerne betwene good euill and betwene right wronge that I may euer haue willingnes boldnes power to geue deserued punishment to the giltie louingly to defend the innocent liberally to cherish the painefull and profitable members of the common weale finally without regard of persons wtout accompt of worldly respectes take in hand execute and performe that which I shall know to please thee alone that when thou the rightfull iudge that shalt require many great thynges at their handes to whom many and great thinges are committed shalt call vs all to a straite reckening I be not condemned as giltie of euill gouernaunce but if I thy handmaide by naturall frailtie weaknes and want of cōsideration shall in any thing haue swarued from the right way it may please thee of thy great mercy most soueraigne king and most louing father for Jesus Christ thy sonnes sake to pardon me and graunt that after this earthly kingdome expired I may with thee enioy the heauenly and euerlasting kingdome through the same Jesus Christ thy sonne our Lorde and Mediator to whom with thee and with the holy ghost the only king of all worldes immortall inuisible onely wise God be all honour and glory for euer ⸫ Domine ne in furore PSALME VI. ¶ When Dauid by his sinnes had prouoked Gods wrath and now felte not onely his hand against him but also conceyued the horrors of death euerlasting he desireth forgeuenes bewailing that if God tooke him away in his indignation he should lacke occasion to prayse him as he was wont to do whiles he was among mē Then sodenly feeling Gods mercy he sharply rebuketh his enemies which reioyced in his affliction O Lorde rebuke me not in thine indignatiō neither chasten me in thy displeasure My soule is also sore troubled but Lord how long wilt thou punish me Turne thee O Lord and deliuer my soule Oh saue me for thy mercies sake For in death no man remēbreth thee and who will geue thee thankes in the pit I am wery of my groning euery night wash I my bedde and water my couch with teares My beautie is gone for very trouble and worne away because of all mine
beyng hurt by no persecutions may euermore geue thankes vnto thee in thy holy Church thorough Jesu Christ our Lord. O Lord arise helpe vs and deliuer vs for thy names sake O God we haue heard wyth our eares our Fathers haue declared vnto vs the noble workes that thou didest in theyr dayes and in the olde time before them O Lord arise helpe vs and deliuer vs for thy honour Glory be to the father and to the sonne and to the holy Ghost as it was in the beginning is now c. Amen From our enemies defend vs O Christ Gratiously looke vpon our afllictions Pitifully behold the sorrowes of our hartes Mercifully forgeue the sinnes of thy people Fauorably with mercy heare our prayers O Sonne of Dauid haue mercy vpon vs. Both now and euer vouchsafe to heare vs O Christ Gratiously heare vs O Christ gratiously heare vs O Lord Christ. O Lord let thy mercy be sheshed vpon vs. As we do put our trust in thee Let vs pray WE humbly besech thee O father mercifully to looke vpon our infirmities and for the glory of thy names sake turne from vs all those euils that we most righteously haue deserued and graunt that in al our troubles we may put our whole trust and confidence in thy mercy and euermore serue thee in holines and purenes of liuing to thy honor and glory through our onely mediatour and aduocate Jesus Christ our lord Amen A prayer for the Queenes Maiestie O Lord our heauenly father high and mighty king of kings Lord of Lords the only ruler of Princes which doest frō thy throne behold all the dwellers vpon the earth most hartely we besech thee with thy fauour to beholde our most gracious soueraigne Lady Queene Elizabeth so replenish her with the grace of thy holy spirite that she may alway incline to thy will walke in thy way Indue her plentifully with heauenly giftes Graunt her in health and wealth long to liue Strēgthen her that she may vanquishe and ouercome all her enemies and finally after thys life she may attaine euerlasting ioy felicitie through Christ our Lord Amen In the tyme of any common plague or sicknes O Almighty God which in thy wrath in the tyme of king Dauid diddest slea with the plague of pestilence three score and ten thousand and yet remembring thy mercy diddest saue the rest haue pitie vpon vs miserable sinners that now are visited with great sicknes and mortalitie that like as thou diddest then commaunde thyne Aungell to cease from punishing So it may please thee to withdraw frō vs this plague and greuous sicknes through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen A prayer of Chrisostome ALmighty God which hast geuen vs grace at this tyme with one accorde to make our common supplications vnto thee and doost promise that when two or three be gathered together in thy name thou wilt graunt theyr requestes fulfil now O Lord the desires and petitions of thy seruauntes as may be most expedient for them graunting vs in this worlde knowledge of thy truth and in the world to come life euerlasting Amen ¶ In time of sicknes MOst mercifull redemer thou art alwais merciful who art alwaies the Sauiour whether thou doest send health or sicknes wealth or aduersitie ioy or sorow For it is of great mercy whē by outward afflictions as it were by bitter but yet wholsome medicines thou doest heale the inward diseases of the soule and by temporarie troubles which do last but for a short time doest prepare vs to eternall ioyes which endure for euer And thy self O gratious Sauiour passing into thy glory through the greatest afflictions of thys worlde hast trodē out vnto vs by thy steps that way to true and perfect felicitie in the which no humble and true seruant ought eyther to disdaine or to shrincke to followe after hys Lord and Master so going before hym But for so much as without thee we can doe nothyng that good is I besech thee to endue me with thy heauenly grace that I may take vp willingly obediently thys crosse which thou hast appoynted vnto me and folow after thee and that I may drinke of as it were this medicinable cup though bitter vnto the flesh which thou the heauenly phisitian doest thus offer vnto me patiently without grndging or murmuring agaynst thee and that I may with thy faithfull seruant Job and with vnfayned lips and hart say the Lord hath geuen the Lord hath taken away as it hath pleased the Lorde so is it come to passe blessed be the name of the Lord. For if I haue receiued gladly youth health riches honour and ioy at thy handes O lord why should I refuse patiently to take age sicknes aduersitie and sorrowe at thy handes also These thinges be in dede very greuous vnto fraile nature and fleshe but thou my Lorde though most perfectly innocent infinitely hast suffered more greuous thinges for me and I haue deserued infinitely more greuous thinges who haue so oft deserued hell But yet thou knowest the frailtie of our humane condition and nature Wherefore I besech thee as thou pourest sharpe wine into our woūdes to bite away the corruption of our sinnes so after the example of the mercifull Samaritane set forth in thy holy Gospell to resemble thy selfe adde vnto the sharpe wyne of thy correction the suppling oyle of thy mercifull comfort wherby I may be able to suffer things which otherwise are intolerable vnto me And if it bee thy pleasure to encrease sorow vpon me encrease also thy grace and gift of patience in me and turne these worldly and bodily afflictions to the profite of my soule by mine acknowledging of thy iustice in punishing me worthely and thy mercy in correcting me graciously euen like as a father hath pitie vpon hys children whē he beateth them and by my submitting of my owne will vnto thy holy will patiently taking of this thy prouing and trying of me whether I loue thee or no may offer that sacrifice of obedience which is acceptable vnto thee And when thy fatherly pietie shall be contented with thy meeke chastising of me then I besech thee send calme after thys tempest quietnes after thys trouble and ioy after thys sorrow that I may render thākes vnto thee for double causes both that thou hast first corrected and amended me an vnprofitable seruaunt and afterward hast taken away the bitternes of affliction with the softnes of thy comfort in the one hauing regard of necessitie in the other not forgetting my infirmitie and in both as in all thinges alwaies remembring thy mercy vnto the which I doe commend and betake my self both body and soule now and for euer Vnto thee with the father and the holy ghost one God of most excellent maiestie be all prayse honour and thankesgeuing for euer and euer Amē ¶ An other in sicknes ALmightie God and most mercifull father who doest correct all those whō thou doest receaue bringing euen vnto the very