I take in hand so that it may be to the glorie of thy name and the profit of my brethren through Iesus Christ our only Sauiour and redeemer Amen A praier to be said in the time of persecution MOst deere and louing father which of thy owne goodnes didst so loue the world that it pleased thee of thy free mercie to send thine only sonne into the world to take our nature vpon him therby to deliuer the world from sin death and hell and promising that whosoeuer did call vpon him faithfully beleeue in him stedfastly and perseuere vnto the ende constantly should receiue of him after this life a crown of euerlasting glorie then who will not endeuour to call vpon him faithfully Who is such an infidell as knowing this wil not beleeue stedfastly Or who so vnconstant or wauering minded as will not suffer all the torments vnder heauen to obtaine this vnspeakeable reward But forsomuch good father as all these things are thy good gifts and without thy gratious fauour it is vnpossible for me to do any of all these things therfore good father I beseech thee for thy deere sonne our Sauiour Iesus Christ his sake to put into my hart grace to call vpon him faithfully faith to beleeue in him stedfastly and constancie to remaine vnto the end vnmoouably that I may obtaine this reward the greatnes and goodnes whereof no eie hath seene no eare hath heard neither hath it entred into the hart of man And although the cruell and malicious tyrants of the world do go about by all the means they can deuise to draw me from thee by their crueltie and mischeefe yet in this great extremitie O good father I pray thee giue mee thy comfortable aide that as I haue begun in thee to abide their cruell rackings and other persecutions wherewith they vexe and torment thy children so I may continue vnto the end knowing as our Sauiour Christ saith Whosoeuer doth endure vnto the end shall be saued And in another place he saith he that doth put his hand vnto the plough and looketh backe is vnwoorthie of the kingdome of heauen But for that the frailtie of mans nature is such as of himselfe he is not able to endure the least touch of persecutiō without thy fatherly aid and comfort I beseech thee therefore good Father strengthen mee with thy holie spirit that for all the troubles and torments of this wicked world I may not once looke backe but perseuere vnto the end in that good worke which thou O Lord hast begun in mee And forsomuch good father as there are many things in this world that doth hinder man very much from following of Christ as the loue of worldlie riches of father and mother wife and children of brethren and sisters and such like therefore our Sauiour Christ saith plainly He that loueth father or mother more than me is not woorthie of me and he that loueth sonne or daughter more than me is not woorthie of me And he that taketh not his crosse and followeth after me is not woorthie of me He that will saue his life shall lose it and he that will lose his life for my sake shall find it Thus may all men see oh most merciful father what a great commoditie there is to be had in the world to come by losing life in this world for Christ his sake Therefore good father I beseech thee giue me grace patiently to suffer whatsoeuer persecution the wicked tyrants of the world wil lay vpon me and not to looke backe or shrinke from the same knowing that for euerie moment of sorrowes that I suffer for Christs sake in this world I shall haue a million of ioies in the world to come vnto the which place God for his sonne Iesus Christ his sake bring vs to whom with the Father and the holie Ghost be all honor glorie world without end Amen A praier for a competent liuing ALmightie GOD which mercifully bestowest thy gifts and graces vpon all thy faithfull seruants and giuest vnto euerie man sufficient according to thy good will and pleasure I beseech thee good father grant vnto me a sufficient and competent liuing that I neither haue too much riches nor extreme need but euen liuing wherwith I may sustaine my selfe and helpe my poore neighbor for as the wise man Salomon saith Two things haue I required of thee denie me them not before I die remoue far from me vanitie and lies giue me not pouertie nor riches feed me with food conuenient for me least I be full and denie thee and say Who is the Lord Or least I be poore and steale and so take the name of my God in vaine Therefore good father I beseech thee giue vnto me sufficient to serue my need and no more for heere I see the discommoditie of them both grant this good father I besech thee for Iesus Christ his sake my only Sauiour redeemer Amen A praier for a magistrate ETernall GOD and most mercifull father which hast framed all men out of the clay of the earth hatest nothing that thou hast created which also hast appointed euery man in his vocation and calling to do his dutie faithfully and to walke in the way which thou hast appointed for them and hast appointed magistrates rulers for the ouersight of thy people among whom it hath pleased thee to appoint me thy seruant to be one I beseech thee therefore good father giue me grace so to vse my selfe in my vocation as it may be both to the glorie of thy name and the profit of thy people which thou hastappointed to the vnder me And also good father I pray thee giue me grace that I may be louing and gentle vnto them and not spitefull and rigorous so that I may win them vnto thee rather by gentlenes than by tyrannie And furthermore good father I besech thee giue me grace that I may so liue my selfe as my liuing may be an example vnto them of good life so that vice may be punished and vertue aduanced and that euerie man may liue according to his vocation so that thy name may be glorified and their soules edified through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A praier for a conclusion of this little booke O Lord from whom all good things do come and without whom nothing neither is good neither can any way be made good I beseech thee to blesse this labor and to prosper it and grant that some fruit may arise by it And forsomuch as faithfull praier is an acceptable sacrifice in thy sight grant therfore good father that euerie one when they pray may pray by faith that in so doing they may obtaine that which they pray for And Lord I pray thee put away all impediments that hinder godlie praier as too much care of worldlie goods pride vaine glorie and other like all which things are lets and impediments that hinder praier grant therefore good father that when I pray I may put away all thoughts and imaginations of vaine worldly pleasure that thy holie word may take deep root in my hart to the glorie of thy name the comfort of my soule and the strengthening of my brethren thorough Iesus Christ our Lord to whom with thee and the holie Ghost be al honor glorie power praise dominion and thanks giuing both now and euermore Amen All glorie to God alone FINIS A Table expressing the praiers comprised in this booke AN introduction to praier page 1 A praier to be said in the morning 7 Another praier to be said in the morning 11 A praier to be said at night pag. 13 A praier to be said when the daie is light 15 A praier to bee deliuered from the Pope and his detestable heresies 17 A praier against worldlie tribulation 20 A praier for faith 22 A praier to be said when one entreth into the Church pag. 24 A praier against the lusts of the flesh 26 A praier for the diligent reading of the scriptures 29 A praier for repentance for the amendment of our former wicked liues with a thanks giuing to God for all his gratious benefits bestowed vpon vs 33 A praier in the affliction of conscience 43 A praier for the obtaining of true loue both to God and to our neighbour 49 A praier to be said in any kind of tribulation desiring God to giue patience vnto the afflicted that they may endure whatsoeuer his fatherly wisedome will laie vpon them 60 A praier to be vsed when the lust of the flesh doth rage wherin the gift of continencie is begged 67 A conflict betweene gluttonie and abstinence 78 A praier against pride and for humilitie 88 Another praier for the morning 103 Another praier for the euening 106 Another praier when the light appeereth 109 Another praier to be deliuered from Antichrist the Pope of Rome and all his detestable enormities 112 A praier to be made by those that be sicke 121 A praier to be said when one traueleth on his iournie pag. 126 A praier for a yoong man pag. 130 A praier for an old man pag. 141 A praier for a maiden pag. 148 A praier to be said of all true and faithfull subiects desiring almightie God to blesse and keepe the Queenes most excellent maiestie 153 A praier for a housholder pag. 164 Another praier for faith pag. 169 A praier for a labouring man to be said when he is about to begin his labor 172 A praier to be said in the time of persecution 175 A praier for a competent liuing 185 A praier for a magistrate pag. 188 A praier for a conclusion of this little booke pag 192. FINIS 1585 DEVS PROVIDEBIT Gene Cha 22. Imprinted at London by Arnold Hatfield and Ninian Newton for Yarath Iames dwelling in Newgate market ouer against Christ-church gate
set downe the order how thou oughtest to behaue thy selfe when thou goest to praier And now in the name of God we will begin with praier A praier to be said in the Morning ALMIGHTY most mercifull and euerliuing God who art the cōforter and defender of all those which assuredly do put their whole trust and confidence in thy mercie as thou hast shewed vnto mee a manifest token of good will in defending me this night from the snares of Sathan that ancient enimie of all mankind who rageth now most cruelly knowing that his time is but very short and therefore is he the more eger in seeking of his pray deuising how he might get a multitude of the soules of thy children to be intrapped in his net of perdition therfore I beseech thee good father euen for thy Sonne our Sauiour Iesus Christs sake that like as thou hast this night preserued mee from the snare of this wicked hunter and from his noisom pestilence euen so good Father I hartily beseech thee so to inlighten the eies of my mind this day that I may see how to auoid the wicked engins which he laieth to snare vs withall for as he is a spirituall enimie euen so O Lord had we need of thy spirituall helpe to auoid him grant this O Father for Iesus Christs sake our Sauiour Amen Another praier to be said in the morning ALmightie and most louing Father like as thou hast this night mercifully and of thine infinit goodnes and mercie gratiously preserued me from the subtilitie and tyrannie of sathan hast giuen me sweet sleepe and quiet rest Euen so good Lord I beseech thee for Iesus Christ his sake to keepe and defend me this day from all euil that may happen vnto me and that I may bestow it wholy in thy seruice and that I may doo nothing but that which may be pleasing vnto thee through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A praier to be said at night O Good Lord I beseech thee to blesse preserue and keepe me this night from the wilie waies and subtile suggestions of the deuill who being the ancient enimie of all mankind goeth about like a roaring lion continually seking whom he may deuour but keepe me O good Lord by thy mercifull prouidence that I may rest quietly sleepe sweetly that waking I may giue thee thanks for thy merciful protection and defence thorough Christ our Lord Amen A praier to be said when the day is light ALmightie GOD which hast ordained the light of the sun to lighten the day and the moone to lighten the night I beseech thee for thy great mercie sake so to inlighten my mind with thy holie spirit that I may truly perceiue and vnderstand the heauenlie mysteries of thy holie word that therby I may be guided to the land of euerlasting blessednes there to reigne with thee world without end Amen A praier to be deliuered from the Pope and his detestable heresies O Good Lord I beseech thee strengthen mee with thy holie spirit and giue mee grace faithfully to remain in that obedience towards thee which I am taught in thy holie word so that I be not led away from thee by the vaine ceremonies and deuilish doctrine of Antichrist the Pope which calleth himselfe the vicar of Christ and is nothing lesse for he maketh merchandize of mens soules making them to worship stocks and stones in stead of the true worshipping of thee O God Deliuer me O good Lord and all thy faithfull seruants from the tyrannie of this Romish wolfe which seeketh continually to deuoure the poore lambs of thy sheepfold and Lord I beseech thee if it be thy pleasure either to turne his hart or els confound him suddenly From whose deuilish doctrine deliuer vs the father the Sonne and the holie Ghost three in person one in substance to whom be honor and glorie now and for euer Amen A praier against worldlie tribulation GRant Lord I beseech thee that I may remaine thy faithfull seruant and serue thee in true obedience that neither the cares of this world nor any worldlie tribulation may withdrawe my mind from the obedience of thee and grant also good Lord that my mind be not choked with the cares of this world but that I may cast all my care vpon thee which liuest and reignest for euer A praier for faith MOst mercifull and louing father I beseech thee for Iesus Christs sake to increase strengthen my faith that I may go forward in al godlines And grant O Lord that my faith may be builded vpon the rocke Christ Iesus that I be not carried away with euerie blast of vain doctrine but through faith in thee I may be as an inuincible fortresse to my enimie the deuill so that he may neuer preuaile against me And also Lord I pray thee let not my faith be an idle faith but a working faith a faith that daily proceedeth from one good worke to another in the end vnto euerlasting life There to reigne with thee world without end Amen A praier to be said when one entreth into the Church I Enter into this thy temple O mercifull father to heare thy word preached giue mee grace O Lord that I may heare it with such an hūble feruent zeale that it may not be vnto me as seed that is sowen among thorns least the thornie cares of this world choke it so that it cannot bring foorth fruit Neither as seede that is sowen vpon stony ground where it can take no root nor yet as sowen by the way side where the foules of the aire do gather it and eate it vp but let the seede of thy word good Lord be sowen in me as seede that is sowen vpon good ground bringing foorth frute vnto life euerlasting some thirtie some sixtie some an hundred folde grant this O Father for Iesus Christs sake our onlie mediator and aduocate Amen A praier against the lusts of the flesh I Thy humble seruant O most mercifull father do feele in my selfe a great and maruelous battell betweene the flesh and the spirit but gratious Lord I beseech thee giue me thy grace from aboue that I do not let the flesh haue victorie but that I may tame and subdue it and make it obedient vnto the spirit least that I by giuing victorie vnto the flesh do heape sin vpon sin and in the end bring vpon my selfe swift damnation bicause the flesh indeed is apt and readie vnto al vice wickednes therefore O Lord I pray thee to strengthen me with thy holie spirit that therby I may subdue the flesh with the wicked imaginations therof through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A praier for the diligent reading of the scriptures ETernall God most louing father which hast of thy vnspeakable goodnes reuealed thy selfe most openly plainly to the world by the gift of thy holie word I beseech thee O good Lord giue me a willing mind to the reading thereof and make my soule and hart
to take delight therin as in a most pretious iewell For euen as wine O Lord is pleasant vnto the taste and senses of men euen so good Lord let thy word bee delectable vnto my mind and soule For if I take pleasure in a worldlie thing that is delightfull and pleasant vnto the bodie being heere this day and gone the next how much more ought I to take pleasure in that vnspeakable treasure the delight and food of the soul which for euer shall endure And although the world be so ful of wickednes that whosoeuer is a true professor of thy holie word is accounted of the worldlings as one that is vnwoorthie of their companie yet neuertheles O Lord I beseech thee giue me grace that I may suffer the rebukes of the world so that I may be accounted in the number of thy faithfull children thorough our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Chrst Amen A praier for repentance for the amendment of our former wicked liues with a thanks giuing to God for all his gratious benefits bestowed vpon vs. MOst mercifull and euerliuing father I a most wicked and damnable sinner which haue many waies and most greuously transgressed thy lawes and offended thy diuine maiestie in leauing the vse and studie of thy diuine and heauenly word the readie path-way to my saluation and following the wicked desires filthie lusts of the flesh wherby I haue beene driuen to be altogither carelesse of thee the euerliuing God and also of all godlie liuing the cause whereof hath been mine owne negligence which the frowardnes of the flesh wherby I am fallen into such a greeuous sinne that were not thy great mercie oh Lord I should be accounted among the number of them which go downe into destruction But oh most mercifull and louing father in the name of thy decre sonne our only Sauiour aduocate and mediator I appeale to the high throne of thy mercie beseeching thee for his sake and for thine owne mercie sake to blot out of thy remembrance all my former sins and offences wherby I haue most greeuously offended thy maiestie And furthermore O Lord I pray thee to blot al my secret sins out of thy remembrance so that they may neuer be seene nor stand in iudgment against me And also Lord I beseech thee giue mee the grace of thy holie spirit and so inlighten me with the same that henceforth I may liue according to the precise rule of thy holie word and doo those things which may be pleasing vnto thy diuine maiestie And Lord I beseech thee giue vnto mee the light of thy holie spirit that I may praise thy name for all the benefits which thou of thine abundant goodnes hast so mercifully bestowed vpon me especially O Lord for the great graces and benefits of my creation redemption and sanctification For my creation in that it hath pleased thee to create and make me a liuing soule and also in similitude like vnto thine owne person whereas if it had pleased thy maiestie thou mightest haue made me a beast a foule a tode a serpent c. For my redemption in that it pleased thy maiestie after that through the transgressiō of my first parents Adam and Eue I was become like as one that was sold vnto sin and indeede was in bondage vnto the deuill then when all hope of recouerie was past thou oh most merciful and louing father diddest send thine onelie begotten sonne to take our nature vpon him and to make satisfaction for our sins and to suffer a most shamefull death euen the death of the crosse that we by his great patience might be redeemed iustified saued and deliuered from sin death and hell and that so manie as do by faith lay hold vpon the sweete promises of thy deerly beloued sonne our sauiour should surely haue euerlasting life and reigne with him in that place of rest which thou hast appointed for all thy faithful children c. For my sanctification for that after I was by thy heauenly wisedome and diuine power created and made a liuing creature and after that being fallen from thee by the concupiscence of the flesh and then redeemed by the pretious death and bloodshedding of thy deer sonne our sauiour and redeemer Christ Iesus Then after my creation and redemption thou againe of thine exceeding loue and fauour didst send thy holie spirit vpon me to giue me vnderstanding and knowledge of thy holie word that therby through faith in thy promises I might haue euerlasting life thus oh Lord is thy gratious goodnes shewed vnto me Lord of thy great mercie make me thankfull for it for thy deere sonne Christ Iesus sake our onlie mediator aduocate to whom with thee and the holie Ghost be all honor praise and glory both now for euer Amen A praier in the affliction of conscience ETernall and most louing father I thy humble seruant most entirely beseeching thee of thy woonted goodnes and mercie to giue vnto my conscience being fore afflicted ouerloden with sin the cares of this world and tyranny of sathan the sweet comfort of thy holy spirit which is the comforter of all them that put their trust in thee I besech thee O heauenlie father so to inlighten and comfort me with the grace of the same thy spirit that I may giue ouer all worldlie cares and betake my selfe wholy to the fulfilling of thy heauenly wil oh Lord that knowest the secrets of all harts that seest me a most vile and wicked sinner being borne in sinne nouzeled vp in sin and stil day by day continue in sin yea that which is woorst of all I do euen commit the same with greedines whereby I am fallen into such an obliuion of thy goodnes that I haue as it were forgotten all the benefits and graces which thou of thine abundant goodnes hast so manie waies bestowed vpon me This mine obliuion of thy graces oh Lord togither with the suggestions and entisements of sathan hath beene and is such a terror vnto my conscience that were not thy sweet promises oh most mercifull father promised by thine onlie sonne our Sauiour Iesus Christ I might vtterly despaire of my saluation But as thou oh father art in promising most bounteous so art thou in performance most true Although good father my sins and ingratitudes haue deserued eternall damnation and are a continual grudge vnto my conscience yet Lord I beseech thee of thy great mercie to comfort my conscience being sore afflicted and laden with the burthen of my sins Thou O most sweete Sauiour Christ hast commanded all those which labor and are laden with the but then of their sins to come vnto thee saieng Come vnto me all ye that labour and are laden and I will refresh you Oh what comfortable words were these of a most sweet Sauiour Therefore oh Lord heauenlie father I giue thee most hartie thanks for these thy sweet promises in our Sauiour Christ Iesus To whome with thee and the holie Ghost be
pit of desperation and from thence to the lake of condemnation for nothing els is a man able to deserue of himselfe except he haue a stedfast faith in thy promises and beleeue that which thou hast spoken in thy holie word which is the entrie that leadeth vs vnto saluation I besech thee oh my sweet Sauiour for thy manifold and great mercies sake to deliuer me and all those that think to be saued by faith in thee from the doctrine of that antichrist that man of sin the Pope of Rome that I may leaue to studie of any thing sauing that which may be to thy glorie and praise the health of mine owne soul and the profit of my brethren to thee therefore with the Father and the holie Ghost be all honor power praise and dominion both now and euer Amen A praier to be made by those that be sicke MOst mercifull Father which doest chastise euery child that thou receiuest I beseech thee for thy great mercie sake giue me grace patiently to beare this thy fatherly correction which thou dost so fauorably lay vpon me and Lord I beseech thee giue me grace that I do not for this thy louing visitation through the imbecillitie and weaknes of the flesh fall away from thee but that I may constantly and patiently abide the same vntill it shall please thy fatherly goodnes to send a remedie for the same knowing this that whosoeuer doth not patiently suffer with thee the crosse of tribulation in this world shall neuer reigne with thee in the world to come in the place which thou hast prepared for thy elected children And like as thou O Lord dost know the weaknes of my wicked nature to be such and so great that of my selfe I am not able to endure this thy gentle and louing chastisement therefore most fatherly hast thou promised that thou wilt neuer lay more correction vpon thy children than they are able to beare therefore most louing father I beseech thee giue me grace stedfastly to stick vnto this thy sweet promise so that my aduersarie the diuell with his subtilitie be neuer able to withdraw my mind frō thee but as he knoweth me to be weake of my selfe so is he busie with all his might to tempt me that I might fal away from thee my good God and from thy sweet promises in my sauiour Iesus Christ and so to make my soule a pray for himselfe From whose diuelish temptations deliuer me the father the Sonne and the holie Ghost Amen A praier to be said when one traueleth on his iournie ETernall and most louing father like as this world is nothing els but a continuall pilgrimage and that a man while he is in this world doth nothing els but still labour and trauell to gather vnto himselfe worldlie riches and promotion and the more he hath the more he still desireth so that heer he doth neuer thinke himselfe satisfied yea he is euen as a bottomles bag that will neuer be filled be there neuer so much put into it euen so good Lord I beseech thee giue me grace to haue such an earnest desire vnto thee that I may continually all the daies of my life trauell and labor to obtain thee knowing this that whosoeuer obtaineth thee hath all things whosoeuer hath al the world without thee hath nothing For as the scripture saith What doth it preuaile a man if he win the whole world and in the end lose his owne soule If a man oh Lord take such care and thought for these transitorie riches vaine pleasures and delights which are heer this day and gone the next how much more ought we to trauell study and labor for those riches and pleasures which neuer shall decay But this is the dulnes and blockishnes of our corrupt wicked nature which is daily readie to throwe vs into the lake of destruction there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth Frō the which place of torments deliuer vs the Father the Sonne the holie Ghost Amen A praier for a yoong man MOst mercifull father which keepest and preseruest all those of what estate degree or calling soeuer they be that vnfeinedly and with a liuely faith do call vpon thee therefore good father I beseech thee according to thy woonted mercie and goodnes preserue me which am a miserable sinner and haue most greeuously offended thy maiestie both in thought word and deed and am altogither vnable of my selfe to make any satisfaction for mine offences but only to flie vnto thee by praier and to call on thee in the name of thy welbeloued sonne our Sauior Iesus Christ in whom only thou art well pleased as thine Euangelist Saint Matthew testifieth in these words And a voice came frō heauen saieng This is my welbeloued son in whom I am well pleased heare him Heerby may I see oh most mercifull father the great loue that thou bearest vnto this thy welbeloued sonne our only Sauiour redeemer therefore in his name I am bold to come and present my selfe before thy mercie seate beseeching thee of thine infinite goodnes to blot out of thy remembrance al my offences and to renew a right spirit within me And Lord I beseech thee giue me grace that I being a yoong man may so spend the residue of my daies heer vpon earth as it may both tend to the glorie of thy holie name and the health of my soule And furthermore I beseech thee good father strengthen me with thy holie spirit that I may remaine stedfast and vnmoouable hoping for the reward of the faithfull martyrs which endure and continue vnto the end as Moises writeth of thy seruant Lot And the angell said vnto Lot Escape for thy life looke not behind thee neither tarie thou in al the plaine escape into the mountaines least thou be destroied willing him to flie from the iudgments of God and not to be sorie to depart from that fruitfull countrie For such is the qualitie of our corrupt nature that when we are in this world we are verie loth to depart from it seeing the earthlie pleasures so great esteeming them of more value than all the ioies of the life to come oh good Lord what a wretchednes is this that men will no better seeke for the saluation of their soules but altogither for the vaine pleasures of this life O Lord I beseech thee thrust this worldlie care out of my mind and let the care of heauenlie things take such deepe roote in my hart that it may euermore endure and continue so long as this earthlie life doth last Another notable example of continuance do I find in thy faithfull seruant Iob in these words And the Lord said vnto sathan Hast thou not considered my seruant Iob how none is like him in the earth An vpright a iust man and one that feareth God and escheweth euill for yet he continueth in his vprightnes although thou moouedst me against him to destroy him with out a cause Heere O Lord