the diuel rage the powers of the world daily rise vp the flesh with all her bond slaues coÌ„spire against the kingdom of thine onely begotten son Iesus Christ our Lord yet make vs to vnderstand and with constant faith bee perswaded that thou deridest and contemnest all such whom thou canst in thine anger fierce displeasure when thou wilt suddenly destroy bring to nought In this faith seeing wee are sometimes so weak that being ouercome with sundry kindes of terrors and dread we are not so obedient to thy commandements as we ought to be wee therefore beseech thee for thy great goodnes sake to be mercifull vnto vs and grant that we may coÌ„stantly beleeue thy sonne our King and our redeemer to haue the highest power and dominion with thee in all things For seeing thou hast begotten him thou hast also deliuered to him all natioÌ„s to be ruled by his power as his owne inheritance grant therefore vnto vs that yet at length wee may be wise and vnderstand in such sort as we may serue thee with al due feare and worship that in the last day wee be not dashed in peeces as earthen vessels with the rodde of thine indignation through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A praier which M. Iohn Bradford said alittle before his death in Smithfield MErcifull God and Father to whom our Sauiour Christ approched in his feare need by reson of death sound comfort gracious God and most bounteous Christ on whom StepheÌ„ called in his extreame need and receiued strength most benigne holy spirit which in the midst of all crosses and death didst comfort the Apostle S. Paul with more consolations in Christ than hee felt sorrows and terrors in the world haue mercy vpon mee a most miserable vile and wretched sinner which now draw neer the gates of death deserued both in soule and body eternally by reason of my manifold horrible old and new transgressions which to thine eyes O Lord GOD are open and knowne Oh be mercifull vnto mee and forgiue mee for the bitter death and bloudshedding of thine onely Sonne Iesus Christ And though thy iustice do require in respect of my sinnes that now thou shouldest not heare mee contemning thy daily callings yet let thy mercy which is aboue all thy works and wherwith the earth is filled let thy mercy I say preuaile towards me through the merits and mediation of Christ our Sauiour for whose sake it pleaseth thee to bring me forth now as one of his witnesses and a record bearer of thy verity and truth taught by him to giue my life therefore of which dignity I doe acknowledge deare God that there was neuer any so vnworthy and vnmeete no not the thiefe that hanged with him on the crosse I humbly therefore pray thee that thou wouldest accordingly aid helpe and assisâ— mee with thy strength and heaueÌ„ly grace that with Christ thy Sonne I may finde comfort with Stephen I may see thy presence and gracious power with Paul and all other which for thy name sake haue suffered affliction and death I may find so present with me thy gracious consolation that I may by my death glorifie thy holy name set forth and ratifie thy verity comfort the harts of the heauy confirme thy Churcâ— in thy truth conuert some that are to be conuerted and so depart out of this miserable world where I doe nothing but daily heape sinne vpon sinne and enter into the fruition of thy blessed mercy whereof now giue and increase in me a liuely tast sense and feeling where through the terrour of death the tormenâ—s of fire the paines of sin the darts of Satan and the dolours of hell may neuer ouercome me but may be driuen away through the working of the most gracious spirit which now pleÌ„teously endue me withal that throgh the same spâ—rit I may offer as now I desire am ready to doe in Christ and by him my selfe wholy soule and body to a liuely sacrifice holy and acceptable in thy sight deare father whose I am and always haue been euen before the world was made to whom I commend my selfe faith name family and friends countrie all the whole Church yea euen my very enemies according to thy good pleasure beseeching thee entirely to giue once more to this Realme of England the blessing of thy word againe with godly peace to the teaching and setting forth of the same O deare father now guide mee to come vnto thee so purge and purifie me by this fire in Christs death passion through the spirite that I may bee a burnt offering of sweet smel in thy sight which liuest and raignest with the sonne and the holie Ghost now and euermore world without end The Letany O God the father of heauen haue mercy vppon vs miserable sinners O God the father of heauen c. O God the sonne redeemer of the world haue mercy vpon vs miserable sinners O God the sonne redeemer c. O God the holy ghost proceeding from the father and the sonne haue mercy vpon vs miserable sinners O God the holy Ghost c. O holy blessed and glorious Trinity three persons 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 neither take thou vengeance of our sins spate vs good Lord spate thy people whome thou hast redeemed with thy most precious bloud and be not angry with vs for euer Spate vs good Lord. From all euill and mischiefe from sinne from â—he crafts and assaults of the diuell from thy wrath and from euerlasting damnation Good Lord deliuer vs. From blindnes of heart from pride vaineglory and hypocrisie from enuy hatred and malice and al vncharitablenesse Good Lord deliuer vs. From fornication and al other deadly sinne and from all the deceits of the world the flesh and the diuell Good Lord deliuer vs. From lightning and tempest from plague pestileÌ„ce famine from battell murder from sodaine death Good Lord deliuer vs. From all sediâ—iâ—n and priuy conspiracy from all false doctrine and heresie from hardnes of heart contempt of thy word commandemeÌ„t Good Lord deliuer vs. By the mystery of thy holy incarnation by thy holy natiuity and circumcision by thy Baptisme fasting and temptation Good Lord deliuer vs. By thine agony and bloudy sweat by thy crosse and passion by thy glorious resurrection and assension and by the comming of the holy Ghost Good Lord deliuer vs. In all time of our tribulation in all time of our wealth in the houre of death and in the day of iudgement Good Lord deliuer vs. We sinners do beseech thee to heare vs O Lord God and that it may please thee to rule and gouerne thy holy church vniuersally in the right way We beseech thee to heare vâ— c. That it may please thee to keep and strengthen in the true worshipping of thee in righteousnesse holines of
whom wee are made thy children that I may truely know thee heartily loue thee faithfully hang vpon thee in all my needs with good hope call vpoÌ„ thee tender faithfully this honor to thee that thou art my God and Father and I thy dear Child through thy grace in Christ and so alwaies bee endued with an assured hope of thy goodnesse and a faithfull obedient heart in all things to thy holy will As thy hands and from thee as I must looke for all things so come I vnto thee and pray the to giue me those things which thy deare children haue and thou requirest of me that I come and aske them of thee as now I do through Iesus Christ our Lord. As by this word Father I am taught to glorie of thee and in thee and all that euer thou hast for thou art wholy mine my Lord my God my father so by this word Our I am taught to glorie of all the good that all and euerie of thy seruants that euer were are or shall bee had haue or shall haue For now I am taught to beleeue that thou hast called mee into the communion of thy Church and people whom hereby I perceiue thou hast commanded to be as carefull for mee as for hâ—mselues and in all their praiers â—o bee as mindefull of me as of themselues Againe as by this word Father I am taught to remember render my duty I owe to thee-wards faith loue feare obedience c so by this word Our I am taught my duety towards thy people to be carefull of them and to take their sorrow pouerty afffiction c. as mine owne and therefore to labour to helpe them in heart and hand after my vocation and ability vtterly abhorring all pride selfe-loue arrogancy and contempt of any By reason whereof I haue great cause to lament and to reioyce To lament because I am so farre from consideration much more from doing my duty to thy people in thoughts words and deeds To reioice because I am called of thee placed in the blessed society of thy Saints and made a member and citizen of the heauenly Ierusalem because thou hast giuen in commandement to all thy Church to bee as carefull for mee as for themselues But alas how farre am I heerefrom As I am guilty of vnthankfulnesse for this thy calling mee vnto the blessed communion of thy deare sonne and Church yea of thy selfe so am I guilty of selfe-loue vnmercifulnesse pride arrogancy forgetfulnesse and contempt of thy children for else I could not but be otherwise affected and otherwise labour then I doe Oh bee mercifull vnto mee good Father forgiue mee and grant for Christes sake that as my tongue soundeth this word Our so I may in heart feele the true ioy of thy blessed communion and the true loue and compassion which thy children haue and feele towards their brethren that I may reioice in al troubles in respect of that ioifull communion that I may deny my selfe to honour thy children vpon earth and endeauour my selfe to doe them good for thy sake through Iesus Christ our Lord I come only to thee to giue me that which I cannot nor must not else where haue and thou requirest it of mee that therefore I should as thy childe come and craue it to thy glory Which art in heauen AS by these words Our Father I am taught to glory and reioice for the blessed communion which I am called to with thee deare Father with thy Christ and wiâ—h the holy Church so also am I heere taught by these words Which art in heauen to reioice in respect of the place and blessed ioyes whereunto at the length in thy good time I shall come For now I may perceiue that as heauen is thy home so is it mine also being as I am thy childe through Christ although here for a time I am bodily on earth and in misery Againe by these words which art in heauen I am admonished not only to discerne thee from earthly Fathers and to know how that thou art almighty present in all places and of most purity to confirme thereby my faith to bee prouoked the more to feare thee to reuerence thee c. But also I am admonished to iudge of thy fatherly loue by heauenly benefits and not by corporall simply alonely for oftentimes the wicked prosper more in the world and haue more worldly benefites then thy children So that by this I see thou wouldest pull vp my minde from earth and earthly things to Heauen and heauenly things and that I should see further by corporall benefits thy heauenly prouidence for mee For if thou place mee thus on earth and thus blesse me as thou doest and hitherto hast done from my youth vp in that thou art nothing so carefull for my body as for my soule how should I but thinke much of thy prouidence for it is thy home where is such glory as the eie hath not seene c Of which things these corporall benefits of thine giuen mee on earth should bee as it were inductions and the takng of them away admonitions to bee more mindeful of permanent things and lesse mindefull of transitorie things By reason hereof I haue great cause to lament and to reioice To lament because I am so earthly minded so little desirous of my home so vnthankefull for thy prouidence and fatherly protection heere on earth To reioice because of my home and the great glorie thereof because thou dost so prouide for me heere because thou doest so correct and chasten me c. But alas I am altogeather a wretch earthly and vnthankfull not only for these corporall benefits health riches friends fame wisedome c. for thy fatherly correction sicknesse temptation c. but also for thy heauenly benefits for Christ Iesus for the promise of thy spirit for thy Gospell c. yea euen for heauen it selfe and thy whole glory as the Israelites were for the land of Canaan Psal 106. and therefore neuer enioyed it but perished in the wildernesse I am proude in prosperitie and forget thee waxing secure and careles I am impatient in the crosse and to much consider worldly discommodities Oh deare Father forgiue mee for thy Christs sake aâ—l mine vnthankefulnesse loue of this world contempt and obliuion of thy heauenly benefits and grant mee thy holy spirit to illuminate the eies of my minde with the light and liuely knowledge of thy presence power wisedome Col. 3 â—hil 3. and goodnesse in thy creatures but specially in Christ Iesus thy sonne and so by the same spirit inflame mine affections that I may desire nothing in earth but thee and to bee present with thee that my conuersation may bee in Heauen continually from whence grant mee still to looke for the Lord Iesus to make this my vile body like vnto his owne glorious and immortall body according to his own power by which he is able to do all things As thou hast giuen
me to be thy childe so I pray thee giue me these things which bee the properties of thy children giuen from thee in thy good time Hallowed be thy name THy name is that whereby thou art knowne for names serue to discerne and know one thing from another Now though thou art knowne by creatures yet is this our corrupt estate Rom. 1 they serue but to make vs excuselesse Therefore most properly liuely and comfortably thou art knowne by thy holy word and specially by thy promise of grace Psalme 84.138 How Gods name is hallowed and freely pardoning and receiuing vs into thy fauour for Christ Iesus sake For the which goodnesse in Christ thou art praised and magâ—ified according to thy name that is so much as men know thee in Christ they magnifie thee and praise thee which here thou callest hallowing or sanctifying For that thou art the more holy not in respect of thy selfe but in respect of men who the more they know thee the more they caÌ„not but sanctifie thee that is they cannot but as in themselues by true faith loue feare spirituall seruice honour thee so also in their outward behauiour and words they cannot but liue in such sort The chiefe desire of Gods children as other seeing them may in and by their holinesse and godly conuersation bee occasioned as to know thee so to sanctifie thy name accordingly and therefore thou settest forth here vnto me what is the chiefe and principall wish and desire of thy children and people namely that â—hou in Christ mightest bee truely knowen and honoured both of themselues and of other inwardly and outwardly as by the contrary a man may easily perceiue The greatest griefe of Goâ—s people that the greatest sorrowe and griefe thy people haue is ignorance of thee false seruice or religion and wicked conuersation Against the which they pray and labour diligently after their vocation as they for the obtaining of the other both to other and to themselues doe take no small paine in prayer studie and godly exercise By reason heereof I see that I am farre from this desire and lamentation which is in thy children I see mine ignorance of the true knowledge of thee and thy name for else it had not needed thee so by thy word to haue reuealed thy selfe I see also mine owne ignorance of the excellencie of the same Our ignorance for else wouldest thou not haue told mee that the saÌ„ctifying of thy name is the chiefest thing thou requirest of euery man Againe I see my great want of holinesse Our great neede for else thou needest not to teach me to seeke and pray for that I want not Moreouer I see my great peruersity which would not seeke at thy hands for sanctification although I see my need thereof For the which thou wouldest not haue commaunded mee to pray if I seeing my want would haue prayed vnto thee for the same Last of all Gods loue I see thy wonderfull goodnesse which wilt vndoubtedly giue vnto me sanctification and holinesse for thou wouldest not that I should aske for that thing that thou wilt not giue mee So that I haue great cause to lament and reioyce To lament because I am so farre from this desire and lamentation which thy children haue also because of mine ignorance pouerty peruersity vnthankfulnes c. But most of all because thy holy name word and religion is so blasphemed both in doctrine in liuing of many especially in this Realme To reioice I haue great cause for thy exceeding goodnes and mercie which wouldest so disclose thy selfe by thy workes word and Gospell which wouldest open these things thus vnto me and also giue vnto mee and others sanctification in thy sight by faith and in the sight of men by purenesse of life and godly conuersation But alas I doe hartely neither the one nor the other that is lament or reioice as thou father which searchest my heart dost right well know Oh be mercifull vnto me and forgiue me yea giue me for thine owne pity thy holy spirit to reueale and open to my minde effectually my miserable estate and condition my ignorance peruersity my carelesnesse for thy true honour and dishonour in such sort that I may hartily lament these euills and haue them pardoned and taken from mee through Iesus Christ our Lord. Againe good father giue mee the same thy holy spirit to reueale to me thy name word and Gospell that I may liuely know thee vnfainedly loue thee heartily obey thee and aboue all things desire and labour by all meanes lawfull that all godlines in doctrine and conuersation may bee exercised both in mee and all others for whom thou wouldest I should pray Here think vpon the state of religion the life of the professors of the Gospel that thou maist lament some pray for some and giue thankes for some Let thy kingdome come Gods kingdom in respect of his power THy kingdome is in two sorts to be considered vniuersally and particularly Vniuersally according to thy power wherwith thou gouernest all things euery where in earth Heauen hell diuels Angels men beasts fowles fishes and all other creatures Of this kingdome spake Dauid when he said This kingdome ruleth ouer all Psal 10 4. Particularly thy kingdome is to bee considered according to thy grace wherewith thou rainest only in thy Church and elect people Gods kingdom in respect of his grace ruling and gouerning all and euery member of thy Church to thy glory and their eternall comfort Not that out of this Church I exclude thy power for as therewith thou defendest thy people so thou punishest thy enemies but because thy grace is specially considered being as it were the very keeper that keepeth and guideth thy people Godâ— kingdome in respect of his glory The time will be when this kingdome of grace and power now being as distinct shall be vnited and made one kingdome of glory which will bee when Christ shall giue vp his kingdome into thyne hands that is in the resurrection when death the last enemie shal be subdued and thou shalt be all in all In the meane season How Gods kingdome is here conside ed and enlarged this kingdome of grace is miraculously and mightily propagated enlarged and gouerned by the true ministery of thy word and Sacraments through the working of thy holy spirit And this is the meane and way whereby as thou didst first plant so doest thou enlarge amplifie and preserue the same This kingdome of grace begun continued and enlarged by the true preaching of thy Gospell and ministration of thy Sacraments is the thing which Christ teacheth here thy children to pray for that it might come that is to say that thâ— Gospel might so mightily purely and plenteously bee preached maugre the head of all thine enemies that the number of thine elect might bee brought in and so the kingdome of thy glory might appeare So that as I
see thy children desire pray and labour that thy Gospell might bee truely preached heard and liued in themselues and in others so they lament the not preaching and refusing the not liuing and not beleeuing thy Gospell yea they lament the lingring of the comming of thy Christ for in his comming they know they shall bee like vnto him and hauing this hope they purifie themselues as hee is pure By reason heereof I see first that I am farre from this desire and lamenting which thy children haue I see my ignoraÌ„ce of thy kingdome and power euery where also of thy grace in thy Church only and of thy glory when all the enemies of thy grace shall bee cast downe and thy glory and power shall embrace each other I see my ignorance how acceptable a seruice to thee is the true preaching and the hearing of thy Gospel for else thou hadst not needed to haue placed this petition next to the petition of the sanctifying of thy name Againe I see heere mine vnablenesse to enter into thy kingdome and to attaine to it for else what neede should I haue to pray for that to come from thee which otherwise may be atchieued Thirdly I see my peruersity and contempt of thy Kingdome grace for although I see my want Our peruersity yet I would not desire thy kingdome to come if thou didest not command me so to pray and if I would haue praied for it thou wouldst not haue commaunded me Gods goodnes Last of all I see thy goodnesse which wilt bring thy kingdome and that as generally by sending foorth ministers to preach truly so particularly by regenerating me more more by giuing me as grace here so glory else where for thou wouldest not I should pray for that which thou wilt deny So that I haue great cause to lament and reioice To lament because of my miserable state and condiâ—ion because of my sinne ignorance rebellion peruersity Sathans power contempt of thy grace thy Gospell and ministery here or elsewhere To reioice because of thy goodnesse great mercie which hast brought me into thy Church keepest me in it and wilt do so still Also because of the ministery of thy word sacraments by which the holy Ghost is and will be effectuall and finally because of the great glory whereunto thou hast called mee and which now thou wilt giue vnto mee asking the same But alas how vnthankeful I am and sorrowlesse Lord thou knowest for my heart is not hid from thee Oh be mercifull vnto me and forgiue me good father and graunt me the spirit of thy children to reueale vnto mee my ignorance of thy kingdome my pouerty and peruersity that I may lament the same and dayly labour for thy helpe and thy holy Spirite to suppresse the kingdome of sinne in my selfe and others Againe grant mee that same thy holy spirit to reueale to me thy kingdome of power grace and glorie to kindle mine affections to regenerate me more and more to raigne in me as a peece of thy kingdome to giue to me to desire to pray and to labour for thy kingdome both to my selfe and to others effectually to thy glory and to assure my conscience of thy goodnesse that thou wilt giue mee grace and glorie c. Heere cal to mind the state of the ministery and ministers the light and life of Gospelers the errors heresies which men be intangled withall Thy will be done AS thy power is infinite so is thy wisdome accordingly Whereby wee may perceiue that nothing is or can bee done against thy power or otherwise then by it so is there not nor cannot bee any thing done against or otherwise thou by thy omnipotent and secret will which is alwaies as thou art good holy iust how farre soeuer it seeme otherwise to our foolish reason and iudgement and therfore heere we are taught to praie that thy will may be done heere without sinne on mans behalfe as it is on the Angels behalfe in heauen Againe for as much as thou art incomprehensible of thy selfe as well concerning thy power as concerning thy wisdome we may not according thereto search thee but rather adore and worship thy maiestie and tremble at thy iudgements and works therefore pray alwaies wee may bee content with thy wil and be buxome and obedient thereto And for as much as thou hast reuealed vnto vs so much of thy wil in thy word written as is necessary for vs in this life to know yea as wee can attaine vnto a little further wee ought to take all things done against the same as sinne and transgression although thou canst vse the same sinne to serue thy prouidence of the which prouidence we cannot nor may not iudge further then thou hast and shalt open it vnto vs. So that this petition Thy will be done is not simply to bee vnderstood concerning thy omnipotent will vnreuealed against the which nothing is nor can be done but rather concerning thy will reuealed in the lawe and Gospell the which thou heere teachest mee that wee should desire not only to know it but also to doe it and that in such perfection and willingnesse as it is in heauen The which thing I perceiue hereby that thy children doe desire dayly in for themselues and others and doe lament the contrary Psal 109. in whom soeuer it be so that often their eies gush our with riuers of teares because meâ— keepe not thy lawes By reason hereof I see that I am far from the sighs and teares of thy people Our ignorance I see my ignoraÌ„ce of thy will if thou hadst not opened the same by thine owne mouth I see my ignorance how acceptable a seruice obedience to thy will is and therfore doest thou place this petition among the first and continuall desires of thy children Againe I see my pouerty in Godlie obedience Our necessity which had need to bee taught to pray for it there by to signifie vnto me my want and vnability to attaine it but by thy gift Thirdly I see my disobedience Our disobedience for else neuer wouldest thou haue commaunded mee to haue prayer for the doing of thy holy will if I seeing my want would haue prayed so Gods goodnes Last of all I see thy goodnesse which wilt giue to me and others to obey thy will that is to loue thee with all our harts to loue our neighbor as our selues to dy to our selues to liue to thee to take vp our crosse and to follow thee to beleeue to repent c. for else thou wouldst neuer haue bidden vs to praie for a thing which wee should not looke for So that I haue great cause to lament and reioice To lament because of my miserable estate and condition because of my sin ignorance pouerty and peruersity and because thy wil is euery where either not known or contemned an Satans will the wil of the world and of the
mouth and call vs vnto thee open our eares that we may heare thee so that what soeuer we do speake or thinke it may be directed vnto thee alone our redeemer mediator and aduocate If ye be risen again with Christ seek the things which are aboue where Christ setteth at the right haÌ„d of God set your affection on things that are aboue and not on things which are on earth Col. 3. Another THou Lord diddest put away Mary Magdalen from the kissing of thy feet because thy flesh was not yet exalted and she knew not yet the dignity of thy glorified body beautified with the glory of immortality but was addicted only to the bodily presence She yet sought the liuing among the dead neither was it known to her that thou wast equall with thy father Wherfore thou wouldest not suffer her so much as to kisse thy feet because it was a thing vnworthy for thy maiesty O thou mighty Lion of the Tribe of Iuda thou conqueror of hell and death euerliuing and immortall thou art now risen from death for vs thou art now asceÌ„ded to thy Father and our Father and sittest at his right hand in glorie suffer vs to come neer vnto thee that we may kisse thee yea Lord thou louer of our soules Cant. 1. come then rather vnto vs kisse vs with the kisse of thy mouth that we may bee glad and reioice in thee draw vs that we may runne after the sauour of thy sweet ointments that wee may behold thee in righteousnesse Psal 17. and when thy glory shal appeare we may be satisfied for in thy presence there is fulnesse of ioy Psal 16. and in thy right hand there are pleasures for euermore A Praier for true repentance MOst gratious God and mercifull father of our Sauiour Iesus Christ because I haue sinned and done wickedly and through thy goodnesse haue receiued a desire of repentance whereunto this thy long suffering doth draw my hard heart I beseech thee for thy great mercies sake in Christ to worke the same repentance in me and by thy spirit power and grace so to humble mortifie and feare my conscience for my sinnes to saluation that in thy good time thou maist comfort quicken me again through Iesus Christ thy dearely beloued Son So be it I.B. A praier for the strength and increase of faith O Merciful God and deare father of our Lord and Sauior Iesus Christ in whom as thou art well pleased so hast thou commanded vs to heare him forasmuch as hee often biddeth vs to aske of thee and also promiseth that thou wilâ— heare vs and granâ— vs that which in his name we shall aske of thee loâ— gracious father we are bold to beâ—â— of thy mercy through thy sonne Iesus Christ one sparkle of true faith and certaine perswasion of thy goodnesse and loue towards vs in Christ where through I being assured of the pardon of all my sinnes by the merits of Christ thy sonne may be thankfull to thee loue thee and serue thee in holinesse and righteousnes all the daies of my life I.B. A praier for the true sense and feeling of Gods fauour and mercy in Christ OH Lord God and deare Father what shall I say that feele all things to be in maner with mee as in the wicked Blind is my mind crooked is my will and peruerse concupiscence is in me as a spring or stinking puddle O how faint is faith in me How little is my loue to thee or to thy people How great is selfe loue How hard is my heart By reason whereof I am mooued to doubt of thy goodnesse towards mee whether thou art my mercifull Father and whether I be thy child or no. Indeed worthily might I doubt if that the hauing of these were the cause and not the fruit rather of thy children The cause why thou art my father is thy mercy goodnesse grace and truth in Christ Iesus which cannot but remaine for euer In respect whereof thou hast borne me this good will to bring me into thy Church by baptisme and to accept me into the number of thy children that I might bee holy faithful obedient and innocent and to call me diuers times by the ministery of thy word into thy kingdome besides thy innumerable other benefits alwaies hitherto powred vpon me All which thou hast done of this thy good will which thou of thine owne mercy barest to mee in Christ and for Christ before the world was made The which thing as thou requirest straitly that I should beleeue without doubting so wouldest thou that in all my needs I should come vnto thee as vnto a Father and make my mone without mistrust of being heard in thy good time as most shall make to my comfort Loe therefore to thee deare Father I come through thy sonne our Lord mediator and aduocate Iesus Christ who sitteth on thy right hand making intercession for me and pray thee of thy great goodnesse mercy in Christ to be mercifull vnto mee that I may feele indeed thy sweet mercy as thy child The time Oh deare father I appoint not but I pray thee that I may with hope stil expect and looke for thy helpe I hope that as thou for a litle whil hast left me so thou wilt come and visit mee and that in thy great mercy whereof I haue need by reason of my great misery Thou art wont for a little season in thine anger to hide thy face from them whom thou louest but surely O Redeemer in eternall mercies thou wilt shew thy compassions For when thou leauest vs O Lord thou dost not leaue vs very long neither dost thou leaue vs to our owne losse but to our lucre and aduantage euen that thy holy spirit with bigger portion of thy power and vertue may lighten and cheare vs that the want of feeling of our sorrow may be recompenced plentifully with the liuely sense of hauing thee to our eternall ioy and therfore thou swarest that in thine euerlasting mercy thou wilt haue compassion on vs. Of which thing to the end we might be most assured thine oath is to bee marked for thou saiest As I haue sworne that I will neuer bring any more the waters to drown the world so haue I sworne that I will neuer more be angry with thee nor reproue thee The mountaines shall remoue the hils shall fall downe but my louing kindnesse shall not moue the bond of my peace shall not faile thee Thus saiest thou the Lord our mercifull redeemer Deare Father therefore I pray thee remember euen for thine owne truth and mercy sake this promise and euerlasting couenant which in thy good time I pray thee to write in my heart that I may know thee to be the only true God and Iesus Christ whom thou hast sent that I may loue thee with all my heart for euer that I may loue thy people for thy sake that I may be wholy in thy sight through Christ that I
blindnes corruption of our hearts is such that we are not able to arise vp vnto thee by faithfull and hearty praier according to our great necessity without thy singular grace and assistance grant vnto vs gracious Lord thy holy and sanctifying spirit to worke in vs this good worke with grace to weigh and consider the need and greatnesse of that wee doe desire and with an assured faith and trust that thou wilt grant vs our requests because thou art good and gracious euen to yong Rauens calling vpon thee much more then to vs for whom thou hast made all things yea and hast not spared also thine owne deare sonne because thou hast commanded vs to call vpon thee because thy throne wherto we come is a throne of grace and mercy because thou hast giuen vs a mediator Christ to bring vs vnto thee being the way by whom we come being the doore by whom we enter being our head on whom we hang hope that our poor petitions shal not be in vain through him for his names take We beseech thee therefore of thy rich mercy wherin thou art plentifull to all them that cal vpon thee to forgiue vs our sinnes namely our vnthankfulnes vnbeleefe selfeloue neglect of thy word security hypocrisie contempt of thy long suffering omission of prayer doubting of thy power presence mercy and good wil towards vs vnsensiblenesse of thy grace impatience c. And to this thy benefit of correcting vs and this gracious gift of repentance faith the spirit of praier the contempt of this world and hearty desiring of euerlasting life Indue vs with thy holy spirit according to thy couenant of mercy aswell to assure vs of pardon and that thou doest accept vs in thy fauour as thy deare children in Christ and for his sake as to write thy law in our hearts and so to worke in vs that wee may now begin and go forward in beleeuing louing fearing obeying praysing hoping seruing thee as thou doest require most fatherly and most iustly of vs accepting vs as perfect in thy sight through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A praier of the afflicted for the profession of Gods Word O Gratious God which seekest all meanes possible how to bring thy children into the feeling sure sense of thy mercy and therefore when prosperity will not serue then sendest thou aduersity graciously correcting them here whom thou wilt haue elsewhere to liue with thee for euer we poore wretches giue humble praises and thanks to thee that thou hast vouchsed vs worthy of thy correction at this present heereby to worke that which wee in prosperity and liberty did neglect For the which neglecting and many other our grieuous sinnes whereof we now accuse our selues before thee most mercifull Lord thou mightest most iustly haue giuen vs ouer and destroied vs both in soul body But such is thy goodnes towards vs in christ that thou seemest to forget all our offences and as though we were far otherwise then we bee indeed thou wilt that we should suffer this crosse now laid vpon vs for thy truth and Gospels sake and so be thy witnesses with the Prophets Apostles Martyrs Confessors yea with thy dearely beloued son Iesus Christ to whom thou dost now here begin to fashion vs like that in thiâ— glory we may be like to him also O good God what are we on whom thou shouldest shew this great mercy Oh louing Lord forgiue vs our vnthankfulnesse and sinnes Oh faithfull Father giue vs thine holy spirit now to crie in our hearts Abba dear Father to assure vs of our eternall election in Christ to reueale more and more thy truth vnto vs to confirme strengthen and stablish vs in the same that we may liue die in it as vessels of thy mercy to thy glory and to the commodity of thy Church Indue vs with the spirit of thy wisedome that with good conscience we may alwaies so answer the enemies in thy cause as may turn to their conuersion or confusion our vnspeakable consolation in Christ Iesus for whose sake we beseech thee henceforth to keepe vs to giue vs patience and to wil no otherwise our deliuerance or mitigation of our misery then may stand alwaies with thy good pleasure and mercifull will towards vs. Grant this deare Father not only to vs in this place but also to all others elsewhere afflicted for thy names sake through the death and merits of Iesus Christ our Lord Amen I.B. A praier to God the Father the Son and the holy Ghost O Almighty and euerliuing God the eternall Father of our Lord Iesus Christ which of thy vnmeasurable goodnes hast opened thy self vnto vs and with a loud voice hast said of thy sonne Iesus Christ our Lord Heare him O maker and preseruer of all things with thy coeternall son our Lord Iesus Christ which raigneth with thee and was manifested in Ierusalem with thy holy spirit which was poured vpon the Apostles O wise God mercifull Iudge and mighty Lord which hast said As truely as I liue I will not the death of a sinner but rather that he shold conuert amend which also hast said Cal vpon me in the day of trouble and I will deliuer thee haue mercy vpon vp for Iesus Christs sake whom thou wouldest of thy meruellous and incomprehensible counsaile should bee made for vs a slaine sacrifice He. 6.11 mediator reconciler and peace-maker to the end that thou mightest shew thine exceeding great wrath against sin and thine inestimable mercy towards mankind Sanctifie and illuminate our hearts and soules with thy holy spirit that wee may truely beleeue in thee call vpon thee bee thankfull vnto thee and obedient to thy holy will Defend gouerne cherish thy Church as thou hast promised saying Esa 55. This is my couenant that I haue made with them My spirit which is in thee and my word which I haue put in thy mouth shall not depart out of thy mouth nor out of the mouth of thy seed for euer Preserue those kingdomes common weales which giue harboure to thy people and maintaine the ministery of thy holy word and Gospell that the kingdome of thy sonne Iesus Christ may increase and shine throughout all the world O Iesus Christ Sonne of the euerlasting God A praier to God the Son crucified for vs and raised also from the dead and now raigning at the right hand of thy father that thou maist giue gifts vnto men which hast said Come vnto me all ye that labour and are heauy loaden and I will refresh you Haue mercy vpon vs and pray for vs vnto thy eternal Father Joh. 14. sanctifie and gouerne vs with thy holy spirit helpe and succour vs in al our necessities as thou hast promised saying I will not leaue you comfortlesse O holy and blessed spirit together with the father and the son one true and euerliuing God full of maiesty and power which with thy heauenly
inspiration quicknest the mindes of them that afore were dead in sinne makest ioifull the hearts of the faithfull penitent bringest into the way of truth all such as haâ—e erred and gone astray comfortest the soules of such as hunger and thirst after righteousnesse and plenteouslie enrichest those with diuers gifts which aske them in Iesus Christs name purifie our hearts wee beseech thee and inflame them with the fire of thy loue replenish them with thy heauenly benefits and spirituall blessings that they may bee made meere temples for thee leade vs into all truth which aet the onely fountaine of truth and mortifie in vs whatsoeuer proceedeth not of thee Or else pray thus O holy spirit powred into the Apostles which hast promised vnto vs by the sonne of God our Redeemer to kindle in vs a true knowledge and inuocation of God as it is written I will powre vpon you the spirit of grace and compassion make to arise in our harts a true feare of God and faith and knowledge of thy mercy which the eternal father of our Lord Iesus Christ hath promised vnto vs for his sons sake Be our comforter in all our counsels and dangers Illuminate our vnderstanding and fill our hearts with new affections and spirituall motions and renew vs both in soule and body that we may die to sinne and liue to righteousnes and so in true obedience may praise the father of our Lord Iesus Christ and his sonne our redeemer and theâ— also our comforter euerlastingly A thanksgiuing to God the Father the Son and the holy Ghost VVE reÌ„der thanks vnto thee O Almighty and eternall God with the deare sonne our Lord Iesus Christ and with thy holy spirit for that of thin exceeding great goodnes thou hast made thy selfe knowne vnto vs by most assured and euidenâ— testimonies and for that thou hast gaâ—hered and chosen vnto thy selfe a perpetuall Church and wouldest that thy Sonne our Lord Iesus Christ should suffer death to restore vs from death to life for that thou hast giuen to vs thy Gospel and the holy Ghost for that thou forgiuest vs our sinnes deliuerest vs from the power of the diuel and from eternall death and giuest vnto vs euerlasting life finally for that thou hast visited vs with many great benefits giuing vs life food doctrine peace in such places as we haue liued in and hast diminished the pains which we haue iustly deserued We giue thankes vnto thee O Lord Iesus Christ A thanksgiuing to the Son sonne of the liuing God crucified for vs and risen againe because thou hast coupled vnto thee our humane nature and of thy inestimable loue diddest giue thy selfe to death for vs turning vpon thee the great wrath of GOD the Father conceiued against vs to reconcile vs vnto him and â—o purchase vs eternall redemption because thou hast brought vs to this grace wherin we stand and reioice in hope of the glory of GOD because thou doest preserue cherish and defend send thy Church against the Diuell and all thine enemies because thou giuest and renewest often the light of thy Gospell and maintainest the ministery of thy word because thou doest forgiue vs our sinnes and giuest vnto vs euerlasting life because thou art our mediator and makest continuall intercession for vs finally because thou doest succour preserue vs in all our necessities dangers and afflictions A thanksgiuing to God the holy Ghost We giue thanks also vnto thee O holy spirit the giuer of life which wast powred vpon the Apostles be cause thou kindlest thy light in our hearts because thou rulest instructest admonishest and helpest vs because thou gouernest and guidest the labours and works of our vocation and sanctifiest vs to eternall life A praier to God for his helpe and protection against the obstinate enemies of the truth MOst righteous Iudge God of all mercy and comfort which by thy secret iudgement and wisedome doest suffer the wicked to triumph a increase for a time for triall of the faith of thy welbeloued litle flocke and the mortifying of their lusts now at length to the vtter confusioÌ„ ot thy enemies and ioifull deliuerance of thy people look downe we beseech thee on thy dispersed sheepe out of thy holy habitation in heauen and strengthen our weaknesse against their furious rages abate their pride asswage their malice confound their deuises wherwith they lift vp themselues against Christ Iesus thy sonne our Lord and Sauiour to deface his glory and to set vp Antichrist We be not able our selues to thinke a good thought much lesse to stand against their assaults except thy vndeserued grace and mighty arme defend and deliuer vs. Performe thy promises made to Iacob stop the mouthes of the wicked Edomits Cal them to repentaÌ„ce whom thou hast appointed to saluationâ— bring home them that run astrayâ— lighten the blind and teach the ignorant forgiue all those that wilfully and obstinatly rebel against thy holy will Let thy fearefull threatnings pearce our stony hearts and make vs tremble at thy iudgements make the examples of theÌ„ whom thou hast ouerthrowne in their owne deuises as Cain Cham Nimrod Esau Pharoh Saul Aâ—chitophel Iudas and such other to be a warning for vs that we set not vp our selues against thy holy will Grantfree passage to thy holy word that it may worke effectually in vs the worke of life and blessed hope of our saluation to the eternall praise of thy maiesty through our mediator Christ Iesus to whom with thee and the holy Ghost three persons and one God be praise and thanksgiuing in all congregations world without end So be it A praier for the afflicted and persecuted vnder the tyranny of Antichrist O Mercifull Father who neuer doest forsake such as put their trust in thee stretch forth thy mighty arme to the defence of our brethren by the rage of enemies persecuted and grieuously tormented in sundry places for the true profession of the holy Gospell who in their extream necessities cry for coÌ„fort vnto thee Let not thy long suffering O Lord be an occasioÌ„ either to increase the tyranny of thy enemies or to discourage thy children but with speed O Lord consider their great miseries and afflictions Preuent the cruell deuise of Haman stay the rage of Holofernes breake off the counsell of Achitophel Let not the wicked say Where is now their God Let thy afflicted flocke feele present aid and releefe from thee O Lord looke downe vpon them with thy pitifull eie from thy holy habitation send terror and trembling among their enemies make an ende of their outragious tyranny beate backe their boldnesse in suppressing the truth in destroying thy true seruants in defacing thy glory and in setting vp Antichrist Let them not thus proudly aduance themselues against thee and thy Christ but let them vnderstand and feele that against thâ— they fight Preserue and defend the vine which thy right hand hath planted and let all Nations see the glory of thine annointed Amen
serue thee Graft in my heart the loue of thy name increase in mee true religion replenish mee with all goodnesse and of thy great mercy keepe me in the same vnto the end Giue vnto me the spirit of praier true humility perfect patience and continuall ioy in the holy Ghost I commend vnto thy protection O Father my house and all thou hast giuen me my whole family my wife and children and aide mee that I may well and holily gouerne â—orish and bring them vp in thy feare and seruiâ—e And forasmuch as in this world I must alwayes be at war not with one sort of enemies but with an infinit number not only with flesh and blood but with the diuell which is the prince of darknesse grant me thy grace that being armed with thy defence I may stand in this battel with an inuincible coÌ„stancy againsâ— all corruption which I am incompassed with on all sides vntill such time as I hauing ended the combat which during this life I must sustaine in the end I may attaine to thy heauenly rest which is prepared for me through Christ Iesus our Lord and Sauiour Amen A praier taken out of the first Psalme ALmightie and most gracious God take away from vs all euill counsell and then our sinneâ—â— suffer vs not to run into an vngodly and wickedlife and finally keep out minds farre from the contempt of godlinesse and scorning of vertue in the stead of these euils grant that we may continually be occupied in thy law and sacred scriptures that we be not carried about like the wicked like dust and fruitlesse chaffe with euery blast of affection and doctrine but rather that we as trees planted by the water brookes indued with the life of the spirit faith may also bring forth the fruits of good works and that what soeuer we take in hand may prosper and tend to the praise and glory of thy name furtherance of our saluation and at the last when the wicked shall fal away in thy iudgement we may stand stedfast and be made perfect through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Out of the same Psalme ALmighty God we are sufficieÌ„tly taught that grieuous calamities miserable plagues do therefore daily vex trouble the church because we haue not ceased to follow the counsell of the vngodly which being once known we ought to haue eschewed The way also of the wicked we haue not shunned yea wee haue not ceased to walke their race by continuall transgression of thy commandements we haue also oâ— long time contemned all godly correction and discipline and whatsoeuer hath been taught vs out of thy work hath been too little regarded yea wtout all shame neglected scorned Wherefore it is no maruell if wâ— in the stead of that happinesse and quiet peace which we alas haue to long abused be now compelled to suffer all heauy grieuous and most bitter plagues But now O God in humblenes of hart we flee vnto thee confessing our grieuous offences and wee most humbly and heartily beseech thee that those euills which we so foolishly and wretchedly haue committed thou wilt mercifully forgiue vs and frame our minds wholy to the obedience of thy Law in such wise that our hearts might be occupied both day and night in nothing else but in the meditation of thy holy Scriptures For so shall wee giuing credite to thy wordes bring forth seasonable and pleasant fruit and shal not be spoiled of the graces of the holy Ghost yea our doings shal neuer be withour happy successe Now we are tossed hither thither not vnlike to leaues and chaffe with the wind of aduersity and affliction yet grant O most merciful Fathee that our life perish not with the wicked but that the cause of the iust may be defended by thy singular prouidence and protection so that in iudgemeÌ„t and in the company of the iust we may be able to stand and not bee confounded through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Out of the same Psalme ALmighty GOD forasmuch as wee haue now learned that a great part of our felicity so long as we liue here consisteth in this that wee refraine from vngodly counsell and wicked manners and also auoid the company of those that despise deride all good things and that in the stead of these euills we giue our selues to the heauenly study of thy holy law to bee occupied and exercised therein both day and night wherby we do perceiue that we haue very much erred and straied from this way of our saluation yea wee haue in these things most wickedly offended therfore we beseech thee euen for thy mercies sake that thou wilt pardon our offences and that henceforth by continuall study and exercise of thy word thou wilt vouch safe to make vs fruitful plants that we may not only bring forth wholesome fruits in thy Church whiles we liue here but also may be able in the other world to stand in iudgement before thee who best knowest the way of the iust through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A praier taken out of the second Psalme VVE perceiue most mercifull and almighty God that not only Antichrist but also the power and strength of the whole world conspireth against thee and against thy Christ which thinke the gospel and the building vp again of the church to be an intollerable bondage hard yoke Wherefore they labour by all possible meanes to breake asunder the societies and congregations of the faithfull and cast away al discipline But forasmuch as thou sittest in heauen art not ignorant what the diuell or wicked flesh goeth about laugh thou to scorne their vain counsells bring their purposes to nought Let them feele thine anger to be kindled against them make them astonied at the storcenesse of thine indignations so that they may not be able to destroy the Church ouer whoÌ„ thou hast appointed Iesus Christ our only Sauior to be a gouernour that in it hee may raigne by his word and spirite with inuincible might and power Wherefore grant vnto vs although vnworthy and shrinking children such faith constancy that we may finde him also confesse him to be our only king and that we may nothing doubt but that wee may be his nation people and heritage being most assured of this that he is of such strength and power that with his sword more strong then yron he is able to destroy whom he will and breake them in peeces like earthen pots Therefore O God turne the kings and princes of the world vnto thee that they may bee wise and vnderstand whereby they may vnfainedly acknowledge imbrace and kisse his sonne lest when his wrath shall once be kindled they perish and be destroyed for euer And when it shal be thy good pleasure make them blessed for euermore which commit themselues to thy gouernance and and protection by Christ Iesus our Lord Amen Out of the same Psalme MOst mighty and merciful Lord God though
life thy seruant Iames our most gracious king and gouernor We beseech thee c. That it may please thee to rule his hart in thy faith feare and loue and that he may euermore haue affiance in thee euer seek thy honor glory We beseech thee c. That it may please thee to be his defender and keeper giuing him the victory ouer all his enemies We beseech thee c. That it may please thee to blesse and preserue our gracious Queene Anne prince Charles and the rest of the King and Queenes royall issue We beseech thee c. That it may please thee to illuminate all bishops pastors and ministers of the church with true knowledge and vnderstaÌ„ding of thy word that both by their preaching and liuing they may set it forth and shew it accordingly We beseech c. That it may please thee to indue the Lords of the counsell and all the nobility with grace wisedome and vnderstanding We beseech c. That it may please thee to blesse keepe the Magistrates giuing them grace to execute iustice and to maintaine truth We beseech c. That it may please thee to blesse and keepe all thy people We beseech thee c. That it may please thee to giue to all nations vnity peace concord We beseech thee c. That it may please thee to giue vs an heart to loue and dread thee and diligently to liue after thy commandements We beseech thee c. That it may please thee to giue all thy people increase of grace to heare meekely thy word and to receiue it with pure affectioÌ„ and to bring forth the fruits of the spirit We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to bring into the way of trueth all such as haue erred and are deceiued We beseech thee c. That it may please thee to strengthen such as do stand and to comfort and helpe the weake hearted and to raise vp them that fal and finally to beat downe Satan vnder our feet We beseech thee c. That it may please thee to succour help and comfort all that be in danger necessity and tribulation We beseech thee c. That it may please thee to preserue all that trauell by land or by water all women labouring of childeâ— all sicke persons and young children and to shew thy pity vpon all prisoners and captiues We beseech thee to heare c. That it may please thee to defend and prouide for the fatherlesse children and widowes and all that bee desolate and oppressed We beseech thee c. That it may please thee to haue mercy vpon all men We beseech thee c. That it may please thee to forgiue our enemies persecutors and slaunderers and to turne their hearts We beseech thee c. That it may please thee to giue and preserue to our vse the kindly fruâ—ts of the earth so as in due time wee may enioy them We beseech thee c. That it may please thee to giue vs true repentance to forgiue vs al our sinnes negligences and ignorances and to indue vs with thâ— holy spirit to amend our liues according to thy holy word We beseech thee c. Sonne of God wee beseech thee to heare vs. Sonne of God we beseech c. O Lambe of God that takest away the sins of the world Grant vs thy peace O Lambe of God that takest away the sins 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 c. And leade vs not c. But deliuer vs from euill Amen The Veâ—sicle O Lord deale not with vs after our sinnes The Answer Neither reward vs after our iniquities Let vs pray O God meecifull father which despisest not the sighing of a contrite heart nor the desires of such as be sorrowfull mercifully assist our praiers that we make before thee in al our troubles adurrsities whensoeuer they oppresse vs and graciously heare vs that those euills which the craft or subtlety of the Diuell or man worketh against vs be brought to nought and by the prouidence of thy goodnesse they may bee dispersed that wee thy seruants beeing hurt by no persecution may euermore giue thankes vnto thee in thy holy Church through Iesus Christ our Lord. O Lord arise helpe vs and deliuer vs for thy names sake O God we haue heard with our eares and our fathers haue declared vnto vs the noble workes that thou diddest in their daies and in the old time before them O Lord aâ—ise helpe vs and deliuer vs for thâ—ne honour Glory be to the father and to the Sonne and to the holy Ghost As it was in the beginning is now and euer shall be world without end Amen From our enemies defend vs O Christ Graciously looke vpon our afflâ—ctions Pittifully behold the sorrowes of our hearts Mercifully forgiue the sinnes of thy people Fauourably with mercy heare our praiers O Son 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 shewed oâ— vs As we doe put ouâ— trust in thee Let vs pray VVE humbly beseech thee O Father mercifully to looke vpon our infirmities and for the glory of thy names sake turne from vs all those euils that wee most righâ—eously haue deserued and grant that in all our troubles wee may put our whole trust and confidence in thy mercy euermore serue thee in holines and purenesse of liuing to thy honour and glory through our onely mediaâ—or aduocaâ—e Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A praier for the Kings maiesty O Lord our heauenly father high mighty King of Kings Lord of Lords the only ruler of Princes which doest from thy throne behold all the dwellers vppon earth most heartily wee beseech thee with thy fauour to behold our most gracious soueraigne Lord King Iames and so replenish him with the grace of thy holy spirit that he may alwayes incline to thy wil walk in thy ways indue him plentifully with heauenly gifts grant him in health wealth long to liue strengthen him that hee may vanquish and ouercome all his enimies and finally after this life he may attain euerlasting ioy and felicity throgh Iesus Christ our Lord. A praier for the Queen Prince and other the King and Queens children ALmighty God which hast promised to be a father of thine elect and of their seed we humbly beseech thee to blesse our gracious Queene Anne Prince Charles and all the Kings Queens royal progeny indue them with thy holy spirit inrich them with thy heauenly grace prosper them with all happines bring them to thine eutrlasting kingdome through Iesus Christ our Lord. A praier for