our sins and transgressions committing our selues to his Fatherly protection the ensuing night that awaking in the morning wee may finde a wel-pleasing rellish of holy thoughts timely and maturely digested For the better composing our selues at the time of prayer we ought before duely and earnestly to consider his Greatnesse and Immensitie to whom wee pray the necessitie and height of what we pray for and our own vnworthinesse to obtaine a grant accomplishment of our petitions that being truely humbled and cast down in our selues it may please the Lord of heauen and earth to haue the more pitie compassion on vs. And if men that appeare to speake before an earthly King seriously prepare and examine themselues calling euery word to a iust weight and measure strictly taking care of the lest gesture How ought we in the presence of so great aboue all comparisons infinitely excelling a Lord be sollicitous and heedfull that nothing passe from vs vnworthy or il-beseeming his Diuinitie purenesse Thus praying and behauing our selues we shall no question finde to our neuer-dying comfort the euer-liuingnes of his promises in the accomplishment of our iust petitions being made witnesses of the dissolution of heauen and earth the vanishing away of all things transitorie at the command of his Word one iot or tittle whereof shall not be taken away or diminished but remaine pure and perfect in the iustification of his Elect clothing them with eternitie and immortality to which state of happines our blessed Sauiour send vs all for his holy Names sake A Table containing the seuerall Prayers A Prayer for Munday Morning 1 A prayer for Munday Noone 2 A Prayer for Munday Night 3 A Prayer for Tuesday Morning 4 A Prayer for Tuesday Noon 5 A Prayer for Tuesday Night 6 A Prayer for Wednesday Morning 7 A Prayer for Wednesday Noone 8 A Prayer for Wednesday Night 9 A Prayer for Thursday Morning 10 A Prayer for Thursday Noone 11 A Prayer for Thursday Night 12 A Prayer for Friday Morning 13 A Prayer for Friday Noone 14 A Prayer for Friday Night 15 A Prayer for Saturday Morning 16 A Prayer for Saturday Noone 17 A Prayer for Saturday Night 18 A Prayer for Sunday Morning 19 A Prayer for Sunday Noone 20 A Prayer for Sunday Night 21 A Prayer to our blessed Sauiour for Humility 22 Another for assistance in dangers and troubles 23 A Prayer against Pride 24 A Prayer against the concupiscence of the Flesh 25 A Prayer against Sloth 26 A Prayer against Couetousnesse 27 An acknowledgement of sins with promise of amendment 28 A Prayer in afflictions and troubles 29 A prayer for Remission of sinnes 30 A prayer for Chastitie 31 A prayer to be sayd in a iourney 32 A prayer against Lightening and Thunder 33 A prayer or Meditation concerning the benefites after creation 34 A prayer against vaine Attire 35 A prayer for a Maid against temptations 36 Another to the same effect 37 A prayer for a Maid not to bee puffed vp with her owne perfections 38 A prayer for a Maid to bee directed in her choyse 39 A prayer for a Maid to bee obedient to her Parents 40 A prayer before a Iourney 41 Another for the same 42 A prayer in afflictions 43 A prayer for a Marchant 44 A prayer before Studie 45 A prayer for the Fatherlesse 46 A prayer in afflictions and troubles 47 A Thankes-giuing 48 A prayer in time of Pestilence 49 A prayer in time of War 50 A prayer for a Husbandman to receiue the fruits of the earth 51 A prayer for a Widdow 52 A prayer for a Wife 53 A prayer for Maryners 54 A prayer for Children 55 A prayer for Seruants 56 A prayer for one that is sick 57 A prayer for womens deliuerance 58 A prayer going to bed 59 A prayer against idle talke 60 A Thankes-giuing 61 A prayer for direction in all the course of our life 62 A prayer for great men seated in places of Honour 63 A Thankesgiuing for the recouery of our high and mightie Soueraigne King Iames. April 1619. 64 Another Thankes-giuing 65 A prayer against our enemies 66 Another prayer for deliuerance from our enemies 67 A Thankesgiuing for the ouerthrow of our enemies 68 A Prayer for present necessities 69 Another prayer intreating remission of sins constancie in good purposes 70 A prayer in sicknesse 71 A prayer to bee said before any work we go about 72 A prayer for remission of sinnes 73 A prayer for perseuerance 74 A prayer in affliction 75 A prayer in extremitie of sickenesse 76 A prayer in the Spring time 77 A prayer in Summer 78 A payer to bee sayd in Autumn 79 A prayer to be sayd in Winter 80 A prayer in aduersity and affliction 81 A prayer to our blessed Sauiour 82 A prayer in time of Lent 83 A prayer against temptation 84 A prayer for preparation against the Day of Iudgement 85 Certaine Eiaculations of the Spirit A short Meditation vpon these words of Pilate Behold the Man A Meditation vpon the Resurrection THE EVER-BVRNING Lamps of Deuotion and Pietie MVNDAY MORNING 1. Morning Prayer O ETERNALL and euer-liuing God what humble and heartie thankes ought I render thy diuine Maiestie who hast called me from the image of Death and safely brought me to the beholding of this day giuing me yet farther time to call vpon thy holy Name and to aske forgiuenesse for my sinnes and wickednesses Receiue O Lord an humble and contrite heart and despise not the voice of a miserable and deiected sinner who can offer thee nothing for these and all other thy innumerable benefits but what must graciously proceed from thy owne clemencie and mercie possessing no good but from thee and by thee exercising nothing agreeable to thy will but through thee euen at this instant mercifully led by thy power and gentlenesse to make my humble supplications vnto thee Season me O Lord with thy Spirit endue me with thy gracious and holy gifts that I may bestow this day to thy honour and glorie and my owne comfort and eternall saluation Defend me from the snares and subtleties of Satan who howrely watcheth to enter and ouerthrow me and vnlesse withstood by thy diuine hand how can so poore a Worme resist so mightie an Enemie Saue me O Lord from his Minister the World who with the glorie thereof seeketh to beguile and deceiue me and let not the flesh haue any power ouer me which suggested by him layeth continuall siege to me bringing my sinnes like fearefull Canons before me my owne weakenesse desiring to let him in and all my senses conspiring against me Hasten O Lord to my aide come speedily and redeeme me let not the worke of thy hands how meane soeuer be a prey to thy aduersarie who laboureth to win me from thee and hateth me for thee that being protected by thy out-stretched Arme I may goe forward in goodnesse and vertue Giue me O Lord a heart full of Charitie
thou hast yet continued thy fauourable and commanding hand ouer me in placing me before thee reseruing me and redeeming me from the continuall assaults of Satan who awaiteth to make a prey on me mercifully O Lord forgiue the euill which I haue committed and the good which I haue had meanes to lay hold of and ouerslipped be pleased not to remember against me who am nothing but pollution and vncleanenesse vncapable without thee of goodnesse and vnworthie by my owne negligence and carelesnesse to be called vnto it Forgiue O Lord my customarie and irreligious taking thy Name in vaine my wandering and idle speeches pride of my selfe or towards others detraction for my owne glorie Enuie or whatsoeuer in thought word or deed this day committed displeaseth thy diuine Maiestie that my soule vnloaded and vnburdened of the deadly and condemning weights of sinne may comfortably take the refreshing of this Night thou in thy mercie hast ordained for me euen for Iesus Christ his sake thy onely and well-beloued Sonne and our onely Lord and Sauiour Amen THVRSDAY 10. Morning Prayer AS out of my graue O Lord by thy mightie hand and out-stretched arme hast thou this day called me raysing me from the depth of sleepe wherein many haue beene vnexpectedly and suddenly for euer buried and called me to the beholding of thy glorious and all-comforting Light and in that the admirable worke of thy hand and more especially and graciously taking away the darke and thicke clouds of sinne and wickednesse hast illumined my inward spirit with thy mercifull beames to thinke and meditate vpon thy holy Name and neuer-ending kindnesses opening with the day my eyes as thou didst to Hagar that I might be comforted in beholding desperate of helpe and succour the bottomelesse Well-spring of thy fauour and prouidence wherewith thou cherishest and maintainest all things created taking care by thy eternall wisedome of the poorest things in Nature And since O Lord one haire cannot fall from the head without thy fore-seeing knowledge mercifully and louingly sustaine and vphold me this day and euer that I slide not and fall from thee the head and author of my being and well-being without whom I was nothing and should be happie to returne to nothing Plant in me O Lord the timely fruit of Consideration and water it with thy heauenly dew that seriously and carefully setting before my eyes the end of my Creation the dreadfull account I must render in not applying my selfe to it with the glorious certaine promised Rewards belonging to Goodnesse and Vertue I may now and euer in all my thoughts words and deedes so carrie and behaue my selfe that I may be thought in the precious bloud of thy onely Sonne worthie to be made capable of that eternall Sacrifice hee hath long since offered for all sinners Amen AT NOONE. 11. A Prayer or Meditation for Patience WHither wilt thou goe O my Soule to find a Patterne of all Vertues Where wilt thou ensample this perfect and diuine Patience of which thou standest in need of Get vpon thy wings and flye to Bethleem sacred by the birth of our Sauiour thence trace him through the whole course of his blessed and innocent life where thou shalt behold it so rarely pourtrayed and set forth so sweetly and modestly described that thou canst not if thou hast any feeling of Goodnesse but be enamoured with her beautie Did euer this blessed and meeke Lambe for all his despightfull and base vsage grace a frowne with his Countenance Did euer an angry word dwell vpon his well-formed lippes Did hee so much as rebuke those which contemned him resist those which buffetted him nay gainesay those which spat in his reuerend Countenance Art thou oppressed with Pouertie Consider that the Lord of Heauen and Earth had not wherein to hide his head Art thou wronged with slanderous and disgracefull Speeches Was not this temperate and all-vertuous Man tearmed a Glutton and a Wine-bibber Doth Shame and Ignominie compasse thee in on euerie side See see my Soule the King of Kings and Lord of all Lords who raysed the dead to life lying vpon the Crosse and he who by his Mightinesse and Power exalted sinners to be glorious Saints hanging betweene two Theeues condemned as a foule Offendor Marke his mild and louely Countenance his sober and demure Speeches the modest glance of his Eyes and the composure of his whole Bodie cast in so Noble a Mould of vnconquered Patience that they sooner wanted occasions to tyrannize then he vertue meekely to suffer them Here fixe thy selfe kneele at the Root of the Crosse and with all those blessed Women and Saints which accompanied him reuerently say vnto him O thou eternall and most bountifull Sauior who vouchsafedst to descend from the Throne of thy glorie and putting on our fraile and weake humanitie didst for the redemption of Mankind vvander so many yeeres hungrie and naked contemned and despised suffering intolerable Paines and Torments without being moued or troubled graunt I beseech thee by thy precious Death and Buriall that I may willingly embrace those crosses thou pleasest to lay vpon me that I may run to meet them as thou didst the betraying Kisse of Iudas Giue me O Lord power and strength most meekely and patiently to vndergoe and abide all Persecutions Tribulations Wants Shames Sicknesses Hurts Maimes vvithout inwardly repining or grudging outwardly murmuring or speaking against them let me freely goe not violently be drawne to entertaine them Did not thy glorious Martyr and Souldier Saint Stephen whilest they stoned him prayse thee and pray for them Could he begin this Worke without thy grace or finish it without thy Power No no my most mercifull and gracious Lord it is thy Spirit which quickeneth for the flesh profiteth in nothing but repineth against it Be liberall therefore vnto me O Lord of thy soueraigne and precious Balme which healeth and cureth all sorts of Diseases anoint my rancorous and angrie flesh big-swolne with Malice that the sting being drawne out it may appeare white and faire let me drinke O Lord a large draught of this Cordiall to confirme strengthen me against all the poysons and infirmities of Nature For certainely Lord who is perfectly patient obeyeth thy will and who is obedient humbleth himselfe to all disaduantagious losses or what dishonour else the World can inflict Which Humilitie bringeth vs to that height and glorie which onely they shall enioy that haue patiently endured and expected this their reward to the end 12. Euening Prayer TVrne not thy face away from me O Lord incline thine eare and bow downe vnto me Heare me for thy mercies sake and according to the multitude of thy bounties blot out all my iniquities for what flesh is righteous or who dare stand vp against thee Doe not the Hills flye before thee and Mountaines melt at thy indignation Doth not the Sunne lose his light and the starres when thou commandest them hide their glorie Be mercifull O Lord and gracious to thy
my daily and haynous offences breed in mee a loathing and horrid detestation of all my sinnes that I may flye from them and shun the wayes and occasions which leade vnto them being stricken with an extraordinary sorrow and compunction for hauing dared to offend a Lord of such height and glory and ouercome with shame and ingratitude repent the iniuries offered to so louing and carefull a Master who hath shed his Bloud to saue so vnprofitable a seruant that being by feruent charity reconciled vnto him I may in the day of terrour lawfully claime part of him and being shrowded vnder his wings escape the malice and fury of my accusers euen for thy blessed names sake which shall in that time of trouble bee a sure defence to all thy Chosen 31. A Prayer for Chastity O Almightie and blessed Lord and Sauiour the glorie of thy Father the brightnesse and spotlesse sinceritie of Men who delightest and visitest thy cleane and vnpolluted members sanctifie O Lord and purifie mee that I may not bee a shame and reproach to so immaculary and chaste a Head that I may appeare a sonne some way worthy so holy and heauenly a Father Mortifie and kill in me the loose and powerfull desires of the flesh which borne in me are kindled and inflamed by the diuell and my owne frailtie Fixe my eyes O Lord vpon thy immortall glorious and neuer-fading beautie that I may contemne and despise all earthly and transitorie paintings Strike me in loue wlth the excellencie of vertue that my heart strongly and wholly taken with so faire and worthily beloued a perfection there may be no roome left for Folly and Idlenesse the wel-springs of wanton affection Busie mee O Lord about the day of Iudgement and my Account the torments of hell and their euerlastingnesse that all my study and labour may bee how to auoide them and blesse thee that hast not left me to the world and corrupted tyrannie of man but mercifully laid thy hand vpon me and conducted me to the meanes of my saluation 32. A Prayer in Iournying O Mercifully louing Lord which gouernedst and defendedst thy people Israel from all the vniust oppression and mercilesse fury of their enemies guiding them in all their wayes and trauailes and graciously visitedst thy seruant Iacob in his way and powredst thy blessing on him bee neere at this time to thy vnworthy and sinfull seruant and blesse mee I beseech thee in this my trauell and iourney from any violence of sinne or outward Spoylers and Robbers Prosper O Lord and bring to good end as it shall please thee the businesse I trauell and wander about and vouchsafe to direct mee in it that I do that which shall bee to thy glory and my owne behoofe and profite euen for Iesus Christ his sake Amen 33. A Prayer to bee vsed in any storme of Lightning and Thunder O Holy Holy Holy Lord God of Sabbath Heauen and earth are full of the Maiestie of thy glorie the flouds lift vp their voyce and speake thy wonders the Heauens flie before thy Anger and the vnnaturally mouing Earth trembleth at thy Voyce All which ordained for the vse of Man vpon thy word prooue their scourge and punishment The fire from aboue at the cry of the Prophet eateth vp his Scorners the Sea rageth and deuoureth the people and Chariots of the Egyptians yea the earth gapeth and buryeth men aliue at thy command Preserue vs gentle and infinitely louing Father from this violent and dreadfull storme which raised for our sins threatneth our destruction Put out the lightning O Lord and dissolue the horrid and fearefull stone lest it pash thy people to ashes and we be seene no more Cast thine eye vpon the Merites and Passion of our Sauiour and let his Bloud come betweene thy Iustice and our guilt that we may reioyce and lift vp our voyces with the holy Prophet Dauid I will not feare though the earth bee mooued and throwne into the heart of the Sea for the Almightie is our refuge and strength and helpeth vs in all our trouble Praised be the name of the Lord. 34. A Prayer or Meditation concerning the benefits after Creation COnsider O my soule with reuerence and thanksgiuing how Almightie God placed thee heere of his owne bountie and noblenesse not for any need hee had of thy helpe or seruice but to bestow vpon thee his grace and therefore hath hee enriched thee with vnderstanding to know him remembrance to be mindefull of him will to loue him imagination to represent his benefits vnto thy thoughts eyes to behold the wonders of his workes and a tongue to praise him Wherefore being created and set in the world for this intention reiect and cast away all actions which prooue contrary to this end For alas what did I busie my thoughts vpon O my God when I placed them not vpon thee What was I mindefull of when I forgot thee What did I loue when I did not loue thee Aye me I should haue fed my soule with the veritie and I haue fil'd it with vanitie and haue serued the world which was not made but to serue mee I defie you vtterly O vaine cogitations and vnprofitable fancies I abhorre and abiure you O detestable and friuolous Imaginations I renounce you vnfaithfull and disloyall loues miserable and lost seruices vngratefull gratifications cumbersome and vnpleasing pleasures And thou O my God and my Lord thou shalt bee for the time to come the onely obiect of my thoughts and I will neuer more apply my spirit to any cogitations which may be offensiue or disliking to thee My memorie all the dayes of my life shall be filled with consideration of thy excessiue goodnesse so louingly declared in my behalfe thou shalt be the deliciousnesse of my heart the sweetnesse of my affections Hence therefore from my sight for euer all vaine and idle pastimes whereunto I haue vainely applyed my mind all gamesome and toying exercises in which I fondly spent my dayes and all loose and idle affections which entangled my heart shall henceforth bee a horrour vnto my thoughts because thou hast made me O Lord for thy selfe to enioy euerlastingly the immensitie of thy glorie O when shall it bee that I shall bee worthie and when shall I praise thee according to thy desert and my dutie I offer vnto thee O my deare Creatour all these good affections and holy resolutions with all my heart and all my soule and beseech thee O God to accept these my desires and vowes and to giue my soule thy holy blessing that shee may faithfully accomplish them through the merites of the Bloud of thy blessed Sonne our Sauiour shed for me vpon the Crosse 35. A Prayer against vaine Attire DOth it beseeme mee most mercifull and blessed Redeemer to bee decked and attired in rich and sumptuous Garments when the scornefull and disdainefull Iewes apparell thee in a coate of folly to bee laught at and contemned of the people Doe Iewels and
and dangerous diseases Did not the Powers of heauen and earth acknowledge thee and God himselfe by crowning thee with the Holy Ghost confirme thee for his Wel-beloued Did not the great Goddesse Nature goe back and alter at thy command Did not the water turne into wine vpon thy word The winde bannish it selfe and appeare no more and the fury and rage of the waues lye still and grumbled not When thou wast in presence was not hell affrighted and the deuils themselues astonished crying out on thy Omnipotencie and desiring leaue and sufferance Was not the frame of the world shaked the Sunne muffled in clouds the Temple deuided the graues of the dead of themselues opened and yeelded vp their bodies which in diuers apparitions were seene wandring in the Streetes to Behold their Lord and Master their Creator and Moouer thus in himselfe diuided by his afflictions shaked muffled with sorrow and his heart opened yeelding all ioy and comfort and yet miserable man vnmooued knowing and seeing more stony then the Temple and senselesse as the graues vnderstood not pittyed not felt not the pangs and torments which our Sauiour here suffered Could not all thy benefites O deare and onely fauourable Lord bind their sauage hearts nor all thy miracles mollifie their malice nor thy well-ordered and innocent life saue thee from a shamefull and inglorious Death Consider O my soule that the stones wept whilst the Iewes reioyced the Sunne of heauen put out his eye whilst the sonnes of men constantly stared vpon his dreadfull massacre and for certainty acknowledge that the mis-beliefe and persecution of sinners more terrified this blessed Lord then all his torments and vnspeakeable sufferings Art thou moued with pittie and taken with compassion at the story of a weake and old father vndone by his riotous sonne hauing his lands extended his goods seized on himselfe thrown forth of doores and exposed poore and comfortlesse to the mercy of the Streete and fauour of the open Aire hauing no annuity left but the charity of well-deuoted people And is not thy vnderstanding crackt thy memory lost thy will broken ouerwhelmed with desperate griefe and raging sorrow to Behold this Man the onely begotten Son of the euerliuing GOD buffeted for thy wildenesse spit vpon for thy blasphemies reuiled for thy barbarousnesse abased for thy pride laughed at and contemned for thy folly scourged for thy lasciuiousnesse rifled and turned out of all for thy ryot and dissolution not circumuented and drawne in by subtiltie but carefully and most louingly not enduring the hard imprisonment cruell handling and euerlasting bondage of his beloued children came from his Palace enriched with all pleasures and plentie left his honour and laid aside his glory and offered himselfe vp into the hands of his cruell and vnmercifull enemies for the deliuery and redemption of his altogether vnworthy miserable condemned and forsaken people O vnspeakeable charitie and loue without example vnimitable vnmatchable Man vnable to requite it vnworthy to deserue it and without his voluntarie and free proffer vnequall to haue requested it Dare a low and contemned Vassall for whoredome and periury runne into the contempt and censure of the Lawes approach the Maiestie of his King entreating him to bee branded and scourged for him It were mercie vnexpected to pardon him but if hee should discend from his glittering Throne disrobing himselfe of all his royall and glorious ornaments and in his owne person satisfie the rigour and iustice of the Law for his poore and miserable subiect would not his goodnesse and bountie flie faster then the Sunne And further would not all men admire and bee enamored with his vertue in loue with his compassion and rauished with his great charity but how would this poore man bee inflamed towards him With what fire of deuotion would he praise him With what longing desires would he serue him With what humility and ioy would hee obey him Behold the Man O my soule that hath out-done this similitude bettered the example of this supposition for thee dust and ashes poore worme and slime of the earth who wast nothing but by him art nothing without him and shouldst be happy to returne to nothing but for him And yet behold a sight of more wonder and astonishment then to see the glory of heauen thus abased the purity of Angels thus defiled vnpittying man taken with a deadnesse all ouer of goodnesse hath no feeling of his owne desperate extremity or his Lords infinite mercy and meanes vndertaken for his recouery The blessed Apostle and follower of our Lord S. Peter who first of all confest his Omnipotency and greatnesse and first of all in his frailty denyed to haue knowne any such Man hearing him speake of these things which should happen to him tooke him aside and as the Scripture saith rebuked him saying Thou shalt not suffer these things to be done vnto thee If the report of the Tragedie were so terrible how killing was the Spectacle And if the Storie that he should suffer these torments preuailed so with S. Peter ouercome with an affectionate pittie that hee rebuked his Lord how much ought the certaine knowledge mooue vs that hee hath suffered these cruel tyrannies for our redemption and the satisfaction of iustice It is a symptome in Physicke generally dislikt when the sicke party feeles not his owne weakenesse and a danger almost vnauoidable when hee findeth not that it is dangerous a lightning little before death or a nimblenesse and agilitie of a woman great the night before her trauell their estates being indeed almost vncureable that maymed they haue no need of curing Sinne easily getting to a height when he is not perceiued to grow The slie and subtill Serpent letting words of cheerefull loue fall off his tongue when poyson lies vnder it tempting loue guilded ouer his perswasiue pill with the apparencie of her owne excellency and profite forcing a beliefe that shee should bee as God and comming to Pilates wife in an apparition the night before the Lambe was sentenced and giuen vp to slaughter preuailed with her to moue her Husband to haue nothing to doe with that Iust man Beware O fraile and foolish mortalitie of this Hypocrite and deceiuer who laying beautifull colours ouer his mischieuous intentions perswadeth thee to haue nothing to doe with the Iust Man and rather not to beleeue that such things were suffered then to haue that horrour in thy conscience that they were suffered for thy sinnes and offences This infection was from him throwne on our first Parents which killed all their ioy of life degraded them from their excellencie and vnderstanding and banished them their earthly Paradise and from thence hereditarie to vs taking from vs the puritie and Innocencie of our Birth and so that vnlesse wee be regenerated and borne anew of water and the holy Ghost wee cannot enter into the Kingdome of heauen Thus languishing and labouring for eternall life our most blessed and mercifulliest Lord pittying our
desperate and death-like estate descended from heauen to cure vs and whereas hee might if it had pleased him haue come in all pompe and glory making himselfe King of the earth and finished our Redemption with the word of his mouth yet he to make it more auaileable to vs and tye vs with a greater obligation to lay hold of that which onely for our good was intended submitted himselfe to all kinde of torments shames and disgraces in the purchasing of our Pardon that wee might then willinglier and heartilier taken with the vnbounded loue of so excellent a Lord in our humble obedience make our selues partakers of it Behold this Man O my Soule his whole life beeing a continuall Passion the stubbornnesse and rebellion of the stiffe-necked People more wounding his noble heart then the thought of his succeeding torments which hee passionately expresses in his complaint ouer Ierusalem Oh Ierusalem Ierusalem how often would I haue gathered you vnder my wings as the Hen doth her Chickens and ye would not mildly admonishing the soft-hearted women who in the way towards his death with teares lamented the ignobly barbarous vsage the regardlesse and cruell Iewes put vpon him wishing them to weepe for themselues not for him still testifying his sorrow for them aboue his owne suffering Let this O my soule be thy continuall meditation this the obiect of thy thoughts this the subiect of thy tongue Let all thy ayme and ambition be to purchase a little holy plot neere to this blessed place which thou maist sow with penitent and heart-sorrowing thoughts watering them aboundantly with vnfained and dayly teares in considering duly how the Lord of all Maiestie and glory was here mangled and torne for the sinnes and transgression of them some of whom shall at the last day be found feasting and making merry hauing no thought of that precious and vnvaluable Bloud was here mercifully shed for them A Meditation vpon the Resurrection IF the Angels reioyce more at the Conuersion of one sinner then in the holy conuersation of all the righteous and the carefull Shepheard hauing charge of many a flocke leaueth them all and with great diligence searcheth after one that is strayed returning home if he finde him bearing him on his back accounting himselfe lesse burdened through the lightnesse of his heart then when hee went empty forth What an vniuersall ioy what a height and fulnesse of comfort and consolation replenished Heauen and Earth and all the Powers of both to behold their Lord and Creator lately so mangled and cruelly torne he scarce retained the shape of Man this day rising in all brightnesse and glory from the Graue shining aboue Angels bearing the Saluation of all the world on his Immortall shoulders If the Sunne before withdrew himselfe as ashamed to be a beholder when hee could not bee a remedier of so horrible a cruelty with a mourning vaile muffling his moueable beauty is it not to bee beleeued that hee riseth early this day fresh as a Bride-groome putting on all his light and glory to meete and reioyce with his Creator and Maker from whom he borroweth his splendour and brightnesse The day of his Passion the Graues sent forth their bodies who met and frighted many in the holy Citie The day of his Resurrection the heauens sent forth their Angels who with tunes of ioy and holy acclamations gladded the hearts of all the earths Inhabitants The time of his Passion Saint Peter for feare denyed him to bee his Lord. The time of his Resurrection his guard for feare confessed him to be their Lord Insensible things at his Passion witnessed against the hardnesse of the Iewes in expressing their owne sorrow and at the time of his Resurrection the same things witnessed against the misbeliefe of the Iewes in confessing his omnipotencie This day was God glorified the Angels highly pleased and Man infinitely exalted At thy Birth the earth enioyed a secure peace in it selfe But at thy Resurrection the earth enioyed peace from Heauen not man with man but God with man not for a momentarie safety but eternall happinesse not onely for sauing vs from hostilitie but for infinite and innumerable benefites certaine and lasting on his behalfe neuer to bee broken without our faithlesnesse and treason In thy life time thou vndertookest for God with men ratifying it vnder thine owne hand confirming it with many miracles and sealing it with thy bloud At thy death thou vndertookest for man with God and at thy Resurrection gauest thy selfe a Pledge for performance what liuing soule hath so past the bounds of all modestie not to bee all ouer-fired with blushes in a thought of violating this holy league what sad issue of Cain so stony and barbarously minded hath the Diuel laid vp for mischiefe to be the Actor of so horrid a Tragedy The Serpentine and Crocodile-like act of Iudas in betraying his Masters life is not so high in wickednes as their back-sliding which breake his eternall word to be Master of which hee freely laid downe his life yet Iudas despaired brought backe the pieces and hanged himselfe What calme and deathfull securitie the fore-runner of imminent ruine as Numnesse before a dying Palsey hath so possessed the bewitched sonnes of Adam not to thinke of their desperate estate What inchanting Syren hath with her cunning diuision set an euerlasting discord in our vncertaine resolutions What voluptuous Circe hath transformed our hearts in the shapes of men making vs carry the mindes of Beasts sensible of nothing but what pleaseth the sence following onely Nature yet most vnnaturall for in her lusts we bury all our disposition to goodnesse Wherein doe we employ that admirable and excelling ornament of seeing but in searching after vanities and idle pleasures returning it home loaden with voluptuousnes and sin wherin our eares but in listning after nouelties leasings stuffing them with wandring stories and lasciuious merriments Wherein our taste but in palliating gluttony and drunkennes surfeiting it with mis-called wines and meates which ryot hastning the intentiō hath yet vnnamed Wherin our feeling but in those enormities and wickednesses which take away all feeling of God and goodnes leauing no touch of a Christian hardly of a Man When do we stay our selues vnlesse gorged and then imploy all our study and care to set a quicke edge on our dulled appetites and procure fresh and new desires In this circle we wander and weary out our daies In this Labyrinth we intangle our selues carelesse of thy grace which onely can returne vs. This is our life these our actions Thus wee runne contrarie to the end of our Creation Thus we lose the inestimable benefit of our Redemption Thus are Christs torments become our tormentors and his Passion our persecution whilest wee not looking on it die for euer For as hee hath mercifully proclaimed his Pardon and sacrificed himselfe for all those rebellious subiects that will come in and take the benefit of it yeelding homage and obedience to his heauenly Father so those obstinate and runnagate traitors who cōfident in their strength confirmed by their multitude or seduced by example stand out in that wilful refusall of offred grace shall in the Day of Tryal receiue their iustly deserued Condemnation Retire therefore into thy selfe foolish mortalitie and with great and serious aduice take a suruay of thy owne estate Let neither selfe loue flatter thee that things are not so bad as they appeare or childish feare in trēbling at thy cure make thee slight thy Disease euer remembring the sore must needs be mortall wherein the remedy is so dangerous in which a little delay is eternall death Search therefore sodainely and throughly lest onely pampering vp proud flesh thy malady fester and growe incurable when euery dressing rebounds woe vpon thy heart that thou feelest an inward compunction and pricking it is an infallible Symptome of a likely amendment thou must forbeare all inflaming drinke and high foode vnquiet and distempered thoughts idle much talke vsing spare and thrifty dyet inward and continuall meditation so to abate the strengthener and feeder of thy sicknes that hauing by good and holy meanes made a perfect and lasting cure thou mayst reioyce in Spirit FINIS
Fethers become my head when I inwardly behold thee crowned with Thornes And shall my wrists be guarded with precious Bracelets where thine were bound with cords My fingers glistring with Diamonds and thine iewell'd with thine owne Bloud starting out with the vnmercifull vsage of thy persecuters O my most sweet and gentle Sauiour let my sorrowfull and wofull thoughts for my deadly and horrible offences bee to my head a torment like thy mercilesse Thornes my vaine and idle behauiour more despised then that many-coloured coate and the awe and reuerence of thy iustice terrible to offenders chaine my hands harder and with more crueltie then the whipcord that I may in some measure haue a feeling and vnderstanding of those vnheard of and new-inuented Tyrannies laid vpon thee for my transgressions Let the memorie of thy wounds pierce my heart with true compunction so to haue iniured a Lord of such greatnesse and Maiestie for my sake willingly aboue the meeknesse of a Lambe vndergoing those base and vnworthy disgraces the fore-runners of thy cruell death Giue me O Lord since we must bee perfect imitators of thee obedience to yeeld and submit my selfe to thy diuine Will and Pleasure in all sufferings and torments a noble patience to beare them manfully and charitie inflamed like thine to blesse my persecuters praying for their amendment and conuersion that suffering with thee obediently patiently and louingly I may enioy with thee that happie reward fore-promised to all those that take vp their Crosse and follow thee euen for thy precious and vnvaluable bloud which shed vpon the Crosse is an vndenyable Sacrifice for all sinnes and offences 36. A Prayer for a Mayd against Temptation GIue vnto God the first fruits saith the Prophet And our Sauiour commandeth vs to offer him those things that are his Thou hast planted me here O Lord and opened the gates of heauen to water mee Thou hast made me flourish spreading like a faire Vine and my lussious and swelling fruite haue tempted vnholy hands to steale away what belongeth to thee Strengthen mee O Lord against their violence and let their subtile perswasions come to nothing the Pit which they haue digged for others proue their own Sepulchre and let their nets bee ouerthrowne and broken that glorifying thee I may ioyfully say The Lord hath beene my deliuerer I need not feare what men can do to me he hath helped and saued his hand-maiden out of the hands of his enemies Blessed bee the name of the Lord now and for euermore Amen 37. Another Prayer for a Maide to the same effect O Almightie GOD Creator of heauen and earth who glorifyest the Firmament with Starres the Sun with a great light the God of all beautie all proportion all order holding in thy hand the motion and being of all things created I humbly offer vp vnto thy Diuine Maiestie whatsoeuer is good and vertuous in me whatsoeuer beautifull or proportionable entreating thee of thy infinite mercie to take into thy custodie an innocent vnexperienced Maiden to direct and gouerne me by thy neuer-erring wisedome lest my youth betrayed by frailtie and indiscretion should traiterously yeeld mee vp to the lewd suggestions and temptations of the diuell who apparelled in flesh and bloud waiteth hourely for my destruction leauing no meanes vntryed to captiuate my weake soule Suffer him not O Lord to haue the vpper-hand giue me not into his power vnlesse thou place a guard of Angels with mee holy vnresistable thoughts within me that in thy name putting on my Sauiour Christ for my Armour aduancing the glorious Crosse for my Banner I may put my enemies to flight and triumph in the Conquest which thou hast gotten for me to my owne and all their eternall comfort which put their trust in thee Amen 38. A Meditation or Prayer for a Mayden not to be proud of her owne perfections DID not thy hand O Lord giue those many excellent and indistinguisht colours to the Raine-bow Didst not thou O Lord giue glorie to the Sun and apparell the earth in all her beauties And doth not the Raine-bow at the with-drawing of the Sun discolour it selfe the Sunne at the interposing of the Moone hide his glorie and the earth in the absence of the Sun lose all her gay and flourishing Ornaments O momentanie and fading painting washt away with a little sickenesse and blowne off by the rough breath of a violent wind Shall I for thee abandon my Creator and to keepe thy friendship fall out with Almightie God Will the wormes forbeare thy excellency and perfections and strucke with reuerence fall off and retire into their Cabins Is sicknesse afraid of it or dare not death venter vpon it No no my soule they will breake thorow thy Coffin and as a daintie dish eagerly deuoure it the Leprosie will make a prey on it and too well we know that death feareth no colours If thē thou beest bewitched to this outward glosse and shining seeke the waies to make it permanent apply thy selfe to vertue whose raritie and lustre strikes a far off and all men will call thee beautifull Let modestie sit on thy cheekes and thy blushes will out-last the Roses Truth vpon thy lips and they will exceed the Rubies Mildnesse in thy eyes and they will out-shine the Diamond Innocencie on thy brest and thy whitnesse will surpasse the Lillies thou shalt bee beloued of men at peace with thy selfe and acceptable to Almightie GOD. Away then all artificiall and sophisticate drugs idle and besotting waters neuer more will I meddle with you O my sweete Sauiour and Redeemer let nothing seeme beautifull but thy mercie nothing louely but thy bountie enamored on which let me woo intreate sigh zealously protest and vse all meanes and industrie to obtaine them For all other exterior formall beauties the babies of flesh and bloud let me onely acknowledge them as thy glorious workemanship loue them as badges of thy fauour admire and praise thee for them from whose euerlasting store-house they proceed thy selfe being all beautie all excellencie all perfection more to be desired thē much gold or precious stones in whose companie all things are fill'd with perfection and glorie world without end Amen 39. A Prayer for a Maid to be directed in her Choyse SInce thou O Lord in thy euerlasting wisedome hast ordained Marriage honourable amongst men as the meanes for succession and propagation Giue mee O Lord an vnderstanding heart that I bee not euilly seduced to my ouerthrow Grant that I may ayme at no other end but the fulfilling thy commandement not my owne lusts wilfull desires let me choose by the aduice of my friends and the eyes of my Parents lest blinded with affection I fall into those inconueniences which I may too late feele without meanes of remedying Grant O Lord a pure and vnspotted loue may be the cause of our ioyning and a peaceable and vndiuided amitie the effect Let the feare of displeasing thee make vs please
may not onely endeuour well purpose good things and perhaps beginne a reformation and vertuous amendment but continue O Lord and perseuer all my life long that by the practice of a holy and religious life I may bee weaned and with-drawne from the transitory and seducing pleasures which gawdinesse and custome haue made strong in mee and awaite the subuersion and rooting out of all things good and vertuous settle firme in me O Lord an vnwearied determination of a daily progresse and going forward in thy seruice since to stand still is to expect the enemie and bridle and take from me the feeds and bloomings of vice that I deceiued with their seducing yeeld not to them but perfectly and zealously labouring to follow the steps of so good and great a Maiestie may at last receiue the hire which thou hast reserued for those that diligently employ themselues in thy Vineyard 75. A Prayer in Affliction MOST gracious Redeemer which art alwaies mercifull alwaies a preseruer whether thou send vs ioy or sadnesse for great is thy mercy which by outward afflictions as by a sharpe medicine heatest the inward man and by temporary troubles preparest vs for euerlasting ioy euen as thy selfe hast opened the way for vs to true felicitie by thy owne steps Grant that I may drinke this cup patiently and obediently as giuen of thee But these troubles O blessed and meek Sauiour fall heauy on me my proud and enuious disposition grudging and repining at them Giue me O Lord in cure the happie and heart comforting spectacle of thy precious Passion that beholding thee ouer-flowed with bloud and sweate cruelty hauing vsed seuerall torments to let it forth I may account my selfe happie in so sweet a societie and my rancour and swollen desires ambitiously puffed vp with malicious and aspiring thoughts may at this sight fall low and bee asswaged the venemous and poysoning sting of the subtill serpent bee drawne and cast from me by beholding thee the example of all patience and gentlenes Endue me O Lord with an absolute contempt of all these vaine and gawdie shadowes whose pompe and outward glorie are rated at so high an estimation Let me look inwardly onely and all my care be to be richly and sumptuously attired within Let mee aime at no peace but that of a good conscience fearing onely thy rebuke and displeasure but for thy sake highly esteeme all the contempt the world can throw vpon me the scoffes disdaine and base regard they can afflict me with the reuilings slanders imputations which enuie and ill tongues can lay vpon me since promotion and high respect are no badges of thy seruants commendation and gracefull language no titles of thy followers nor security and worldly felicitie any testimonies of thy loue and fauour to which onely O glorious example of all vertue let me ambitiously aspire thorow the burning Furnaces the Lyons Den the Axe Stones or what new crueltie soeuer Tyrants witty onely in mischieuous inuentions can for the professing thee inflict vpon mee since to lose all the world and win thee is a purchase vnualuable vnspeakeable which grant for thine owne Names sake I may happily attaine Amen 76. A Prayer in extremity of sicknesse O Iesu Christ the onely hope of them that liue and eternall life of them that die I wretched sinner submit my selfe wholly to thy Diuine Will whether it pleaseth thee my soule shall longer remaine in the prison of this my bodie to serue thee or depart out of this world I am sure what is cōmitted to thy mercy can neuer perish I wil lay down this my fraile and miserable body with a willing minde namely in hope of resurrection which renders it to me againe much more happie Strengthen O truely-mercifull and all-louing Sauiour my soule with thy grace against all temptations against all the assaults of Satan Inuiron me with the shield of thy mercy by which in times past thou restoredst thy Martyrs vnconquered against grieuous torments and cruell deaths I see nothing in my selfe which can bee a help vnto me all my hope is in thy inestimable goodnesse I haue no merits or good workes to alledge to thee but alas I behold on euerie side many wicked and sinfull offences many malicious and enuious transgressions many lewde and lasciuious acts which are here readie to accuse and condemne and as much as their exclamations can further desirous to throw me to euerlasting hell and perdition What Aduocate so mercifull as thy selfe Who so powerfull And who more willing and readie Who can better deliuer what must at this time preuaile for me being a story of thy owne loue and mercy Who can shew the skars of those honourable wounds which were gotten in the redemption of mankinde but thy Almightie selfe Who the print of those lashes which all ouer skarrified thy innocent flesh for the painting and artificiall discolouring ours Who with fortie dayes Fasting expiated our riotous and superfluous Feasts but thy most mercifull selfe Wash away O Lord with thy precious Bloud the contagious spots of my hainous offences and let thy neuer-failing Iustice answere in iudgement for my presumptuous iniustice thy great and mightie merites be an acceptable propitiatorie for the multitude of my misdeeds and grant O louing and all-gracious Lord that thy grace may increase aboue my sicknesse let not my faith faile my hope faint my charity waxe cold nor humane infirmity ioyned with the feare of death cast mee into the bottomelesse gulfe of despaire but that when the eyes of my body are shut and closed vp the euer-waking eye of my minde may looke vp and bee comforted in thee and that when the vse of my tongue shall be taken from me my soule may then incessantly and continually cry vnto thee O Lord into thy hands I commend my spirit to whom bee honour and glorie world without end 77. A Prayer in the Spring time O Almightie and euer-liuing God the powerfull Creator of heauen and earth ordaining them with their seuerall Lights and Ornaments for the necessarie vse of mankinde appointing them in their distinguisht seasons to yeeld food and sustenance for the maintenance of thy People Wee giue thee humble and heartie thankes for this moderate and timely Spring refreshing the decayed earth with the kindly heate of the Sun and temperate falls of raine and water renewing in vs a comfortable expectation of our Resurrection in beholding how thy mercifull and All-able hand hath freshly apparelled the naked and barren fields beautifying them with seuerall sorts of flowers loading the Trees disroabed and withering with new buds and blossomes the earth her selfe shooting forth her seeds long time buried in her womb with the hope of a happie and plentifull increase to the great ioy and consolation of thy seruants Grant I beseech thee that wee being renewed and borne againe by holy Baptisme and hauing cast and throwne off the old man may become new creatures neuer more to returne to our old sinnes but
him back lest I fall and be confounded Suffer him not to draw me to the incounter for how can mortality hold out all the glories of the earth are armed on his part to bewitch ambitious spirits all the vanities in the world serue vnder his colours to allure the lighter phantasies Am I a match for so infinite and puissant an Army Leade me not into temptation O Lord but deliuer me from all euill I humbly confesse and heartily beleeue one word of thine is able to discomfort all his Hoast scatter them and make them in their hastie flight ruin one another he flyeth from thy presence and trembleth amazedly asking What haue we to doe with thee thou euer-liuing Son of God com'st thou before thy time to torment vs But O Father of all mercies how can I deserue thy aide or ouertaken with shame request thy gracious assistance hauing from my cradle beene a follower of his if not contemning yet neglecting thy often and lowde Callings Can I hope that haue refused to walke with Almightie God in securitie and safety that hee will daigne to find out me in danger and ieopardy and reskue me from the common enemie Thy mercie O Lord is infinite and hath beene infinitely exprest to ingratefull humanitie thy louing kindnesses innumerable vnable to be deliuered or set down There is no end I well know of thy euerlasting goodnesse bee pleased therefore O mercifull Father if so great a sinner may hope for fauour by the depth of all these either to take from me the violence and rage of all forcible temptation or else to giue me grace and strength to resist and withstand them lest I be taken prisoner by them and cast to the bottomelesse dungeon whence nothing resoundeth but the continuall acclamations and curses of damned and desperate persons euen for that holy and vertuous name of Iesus knowne mighty in the saluation of thy people Amen 85. A Prayer for preparation against the day of Iudgement IF the righteous O eternall and iust Iudge shall scarse be saued what shall become of sinners And if the iust shall tremble to behold the dreadfull signes which shall fore-run the day of Iudgement in what terrour and amazement shall the wicked be How earnestly shall they cry out for the Hils to couer them or to be hidden in the bottome of the Sea that they may not see the angry countenance of the wrathfull Iudge But alas the Sea shall yeeld vp all her inhabitants the graues their Tenants and the Hils be laid plaine and consumed to nothing all shall be laid open and euerie secret reuealed the closest crannie of the heart shall be searcht into and the priuatst deed be proclaimed the intent of the best actions examined and the foulest and most mischieuous in the hearing of all that haue beene borne since the beginning of the world knowne and brought to tryall What a terrour what a horrour what a confusion shall the Murtherer Blasphemer and lasciuious person be in at that day All this we haue heard nay and beleeue and yet the most cunning and subtill Serpent hauing nothing to say against the truth of thy Word with his perswasions induceth vs to flatter our selues that there is more eternitie in three-score yeeres the longest span of our short life then in that Eternity of eternities which shall follow it But thou O mercifull and gracious Lord which camest into the world to saue sinners from the vengeance prepared at this day desiring that wee may repent and be accepted Giue vnto vs a liuely feeling of the danger of it call it I beseech thee to our consideration as a thing certaine so present no soule being assured of her abode one minute Giue vs grace so to prouide our selues that wee may make our account here since after death no man returneth to recall or alter whatsoeuer is left amisse Let vs enter into iudgement of our selues that we be not iudged and carefully weigh euery word that wee be not found to haue respected none Giue vs grace to begin heere while there is helpe lest we would helpe our selues when there is no beginning for from hell there is no returning and after death no repenting repinings are there the fruits of an ill-led life and curses of our follies all the consolations of our punishment from which let thy mightie and all-redeeming Passion defend vs which whosoeuer faithfully layeth hold on shall at that Day with great ioy and alacrity behold thee shewing thy selfe a seuere Iudge against those who would not beleeue nor entertaine that Peace-offering Certaine Eiaculations of the Spirit O My most gentle and sweet Sauiour grant me I beseech thee pure thoughts vndefiled actions and a respect to thy glory in all my proceedings Let me alwaies O blessed Iesu remember that thou art in presence that I may with feare and reuerence take account of my speeches settle my behauiour and all my actions as it beseemeth a Lord of such height and Maiestie Bee thou O eternall and most meeke Lambe the obiect of mine eyes the Musicke of mine eares the food of my vnderstanding and the content and solace of all my senses that putting wholly on my Sauiour Iesus I may bee armed against all temptations and assaults of the deuill Iesu Lord of my life Patron of my substance Reconciler of my friends Inspirer of my soule Preseruer of my renowne and Master of my liberty I commend them all to thy holy protection dispose of them to thy honour and glory What part of me O Lord can challenge or shew euidence for mine My Soule is Heauens my Body Earths both thy blessing Take me O Lord as thy due nourish me as thy charge and loue me as thy childe O God the giuer of all victorie stand on my side in all temptations powre of thine owne Bloud into my emptied veines raise me as thou didst thy seruant Lazarus to a new and better life when I am dead to righteousnesse turne not away from me if I flye and let me not bee confounded for euer whose trust hath beene alwaies in thee Giue me O Lord a noble sufferance in afflictions lowlinesse of Spirit in the height of honours an vnmoued resolution in all conflicts and conquest ouer all my spirituall aduersaries Giue mee mercifull Father a vertuous shamefastnesse that I may blush and shunne the companie of wickednesse an vnaffected carriage slow and deliberate speeches vncorrupted thoughts and holy endeuours Let thy Word O Lord be the light of mine eyes the repast of my soule the repose of my senses the apparell of my body and my defence in all extremities Lay thy holy hands O Lord ouer mine eyes that I behold not vanity stand at the gates of my eares and turne aside all euill and vncleane speeches Set a watch before my lips lest I wander in vnlawfull discourses touch with thy holy hand all my senses to stay them from ryot and intemperance Let my will O Lord resigne it selfe to thy pleasure
leasings and vaine stories O be mercifull vnto me and enter not into Iudgement with thy seruant for how shall Dust and Ashes stand vp before thee or the worke of thy hands contend with his Creator Haue pitie on me O Lord according to thy great goodnesse and in the multitude of thy mercies blot out all my Iniquities Saue me and be neere vnto me in the day of trouble that I may magnifie thy Name and giue all honour power and glorie to thee who art the Father and Fountaine of all comfort and consolation Amen AT NOONE. 20. A Prayer concerning the benefit of Creation I Am amazed O Lord to consider of thy wonderfull mercie my soule is lost in the depth of thy neuer-ceasing goodnesse and like the wisest of Philosophers the more I learne the lesse I may truly professe to know so bottomelesse and vnsearchable is thy loue and fauour When I was Nothing O Lord why thoughtst thou of me and calledst me to be Something which hauing any subsistence of Beast or Plant is better then not to be at all but thou hast created me according to thine owne Image giuing me a reasonable soule like the Angels endued with noble faculties and powers enabling me to reach the height of thy mysticall Diuinitie and diuine Mysterie and made me capable of euerlasting and infinite glorie O Lord before thee and in comparison of thy Maiestie I am iust Nothing and how wast thou then mindfull of me to create me Alas my soule thou wast hidden in the Abysse of Nothing and in this Abysse of Nothing shouldst thou haue remained vntill this present if God had not drawne thee forth from thence and what couldst thou haue done within this Nothing O my great and good Creator how infinitely am I indebted vnto thee for that thou hast taken me out of this Nothing to make me by thy mercie that something which I am What shall I euer be able to doe worthily to blesse and magnifie thy Name and to render thankes to thine exceeding Bountie But alas my Creator in stead of vniting my selfe vnto thee by pure loue and loyall seruice I haue alwayes beene rebellious by vnruly affections separating and withdrawing my selfe from thee to ioyne and vnite my selfe vnto sinne and iniquitie doing no more to thy Goodnesse then if thou hadst not beene my Creator What wickednesse hath there beene O Lord that I haue not had a thought readie to put in a mind apt to contriue and a hand willing to execute it Wherein haue I testified my obedience in following thy Lawes and Precepts Wherein my truth and loyaltie in resisting thy vowed and knowne enemies But O my soule know that our Lord is thy God it is he that hath made thee and not thou thy selfe O God I am the worke of thy hand I will then no more henceforth take pleasure in my selfe since in my selfe and of my selfe I am truly Nothing Blesse thy God O my soule and let all thy bowels prayse his holy Name for his Bountie hath drawne me forth of the Abysse of Nothing and his Mercie hath created me O my God I offer vnto thee with all my heart the essence and being which thou of thy Bountie hast bestowed vpon me and most willingly doe I dedicate and consecrate it to thee O my God strengthen me in these affections and resolutions and giue me perseuerance to the end 21. Euening Prayer I Humbly confesse and acknowledge O mercifull Lord and Sauiour that I haue not imployed and bestowed the blessed Time of this hallowed Day so deuoutly and religiously as I ought and am commanded to doe I beseech thee of thy infinite mercie to forgiue and pardon so weake and frayle a Creature that cannot entertaine the least good thought one moment vvithout thee and vouchsafe of thy accustomed goodnesse and clemencie continually to visit nay my most blessed Sauiour to inhabite and dwell with mee that so I may doe the things which please thee Giue vnto me O Lord a kindly relenting and remorse for the sinnes I haue this day committed against thy diuine Maiestie and against my Neighbour by thought word and deed and by omission of those things thou hast left me in charge to haue done Moderate O Lord my sleepe and banish from me all vaine and wandering fancies vncleane and idle illusions that I may awake in thee and to thee offer my Morning thoughts who art onely worthie of all that onely hast created redeemed sanctified and preserued me for which be thou euer praysed and honoured world without end Amen 22. A Prayer to our blessed Sauiour and Redeemer PRostrate thy selfe O my soule before the Lord of all Maiestie and Glorie sitting at the right hand of his Father crowned with Mightinesse and Power richly adorned with a garland of all Vertues brightly shining in the companie of his glorious Angels holy Saints and bloudie Martyrs honouring and seruing him without ceasing or intermission singing Hymnes of his Goodnesse and Mercie and hauing thus beheld him in this great Pompe and Triumph cast thine eye vpon this blessed Sauiour poorely lying in the Manger hauing scarce any thing to couer his tender and delicate Bodie or saue it from the iniurie of the Ayre Consider well and seriously how he which giueth heat and motion to the Sunne is here contented as vnable to helpe himselfe to take warmth and comfort from the breath of the Beasts whom he there disdained not to be his Chamber-fellowes O wonderfull example of all humilitie How darest thou from henceforth contemned Dust and Ashes swell in thy Vaine-glorie and decked with a few gay Ragges forget thy Creator who is cloathed with Eternitie Humble O Lord my high and proud thoughts abase and bring downe my loftie and rebellious imaginations make me abiect in my owne eyes that walking with my poore Brethren who wander naked and hungrie lying vpon the bare cold Earth I may with them prayse and glorifie thy holy Name who wert the first founder and beginner of this poore and contemned Order Why shall we from henceforth so highly esteeme Honour and Riches when thou the Lord of both didst so contemne it voluntarie for our instruction submitting thy selfe to so great and miserable Pouertie Happie are wee if wee be distressed and patiently suffer it happie if wee be contemned and neglected for thy sake Teach me O Lord the way to despise all worldly preferment and promotions that hauing my thoughts only fixed vpon thee I may passe forth these transitorie short miseries to dwell in eternall rest and felicitie in thy Kingdome which is promised to all those which serue thee to whom be ascribed all honor power and glorie world without end Amen 23. Another Prayer for assistance in dangers and troubles COmplaynest thou discontented and vngratefull Creature that thy enemies lye in wait to take thy life from thee and thinkest thy selfe not well dealt with to be so persecuted and afflicted when thou mayest behold the Creator of Heauen and Earth
hauing no piece of Earth to abide with safetie in Doest thou value thy selfe aboue thy Maker and canst wish a share in his Glories but to be no partner with him in his Troubles O blessed Sauiour is it not thy owne saying that who will enioy thee must take vp his Crosse and follow thee How strictly liued thy fore-runner how imprisoned how died how poorely and dangerously thy followers glorifying thee in hunger in stripes in death Crowne me O Lord in this life with Thornes that I may hereafter receiue a Crowne of Glorie Let me be here imprisoned scourged and reuiled so I may be hereafter released acknowledged and receiued And graunt most mercifull and louing Redeemer that as thou didst in thy Godhead shew vs the fraileties of Man in thy Suffering so thou wouldst in our Manhood shew vs the power of thy Godhead manfully to resist and ouercome all feare of Dangers nay Death it selfe which Satan and our weake flesh painteth out so horrible to vs that cowardly flying the Combate wee may lose the promised Reward Strengthen vs O Lord and be vnto vs a sure shield in the day of Battaile Let the Angels fight for vs and shew themselues mightie in the destruction of our enemies Let them be scattered as Chaffe before the Wind and not be able to stand in opposition with thy seruants who put their trust in thee Let them O Lord be ruined and confounded that wish euill to them that feare thee and desire to be perfect imitators of thy life and doctrine that wee remaining Conquerors may prayse and glorifie thee the giuer of all Victorie Amen 24. A Prayer against Pride DId Almightie God who is iealous of his Honour throw downe the Heauens for their Presumption and thinkest thou fond Man he will exalt base Earth for his Pride Doth he pull downe the mightie and the loftie and aduance the humble and meeke and darest thou yet reare vp thy proud head in his presence Was not the great King Nabuchadonozor turned for his arrogancie into a Beast for that in the shape of a Man hee liued like a Beast And did not the Wormes feede vpon Herod vn-coffind and aliue because he did proudly aduance himselfe of his naturall gifts and graces Who dare contend with the Almightie which darteth Lightning and holdeth Thunder Or what canst thou boast of presumptuous flesh that is thine owne Thy soule is heauenly thy bodie earthly both from God the one inspired the other fashioned in the Wombe lent thee for a season and to be recalled at his pleasure Why doest thou therefore lay vp Honours and Preferments for many yeeres Why doest thou pursue and search for glorious Armes and Titles forgetting thy Father Adam because a Gardener and deriuing thy Pedigree from some great and Noble Conqueror hauing not certainely so much time here as the Herald must necessarily require to perfect thy gawdie Coat For this Night may God say vnto thee O foole thy soule shall be taken from thee Let me not therefore O mercifull Father come vnprepared like the foolish Virgins and be shut out hauing ouer-slept my houre Giue me grace to repent whilest there is time for in Death who acknowledge thee or who findeth pardon in Hell Graunt that I may seriously ponder and consider thy manifold and manifest benefites that I may with all humilitie and thankfulnesse prayse and glorifie the giuer Lay before me the haynousnesse and multitude of my offences that strucken downe with shame and sorrow I may fall at thy feet and with the abundance of my teares wash away the stayne and guilt of my aspiring soule Let the greedinesse of my Ambition satisfie it selfe in seruing of thee being the highest Honour the Earth can glorie of and when it euidently perceiues how little of his owne it is able to bring to discharge those offices which are necessarily required my towring thoughts will fall and breake their owne necke Endue me O Lord with spirituall knowledge and vnderstanding to retyre into my selfe and take a suruey of my owne soule how shee is garnished how decked with what vertues adorned with what heauenly gifts and graces apparrelled and let me be confounded and ashamed to find her the Mistresse and Queene of this frayle and corrupted bodie naked or worse apparrelled and to imploy all my studie and endeuours to garnish and set out her seruant Let selfe-basenesse O Lord attained by a certaine knowledge of my weakenesse and vnworthinesse banish away all selfe-affection vainely gotten by a false conceit of my owne graces Health vigour strength and lustinesse of bodie thou giuest and takest away at thy pleasure by sicknesse hunger wants and torments Proportion and Beautie but thy all-making Hand who can to the life fashion which are spoyled and defaced by Age the necessarie seruant of Time and Decrepitnesse the diligent follower of Age Be it therefore farre from me to glorie but in the Crosse of my Sauiour Iesus Christ Let me take pride in his Sufferings and boast of his Wounds whose precious bloud hath conquered Hell and Sinne leading Captiuitie captiue and redeeming the lost Sheepe reducing them againe to their louing and carefull Shepheard who will recall them wandering vphold them sliding and saue them eternally from the rauening Wolfe which goeth about roaring to seeke who he may deuoure 25. A Prayer against the concupiscence of the flesh WHo shall enter into thy Tabernacle O Lord Hee that hath vndefiled hands and a pure heart sanctified and vnpolluted members as worthie Vessels to receiue the holy Ghost The house must be cleane swept by Confession purified and perfumed by good purposes and prayers before it can be made a fit habitation for our Lord and Sauiour Those be the sweet-smelling sauors which laid vpon the Altar of our heart enflamed and set on fire by perfect Charitie are acceptable Sacrifices vnto him Were not the people O Lord commanded by thy Seruant and Prophet Moses to put off their shooes because the ground whereon they trod was holy How shall they enter then before thee whose feet are swift to defile their neighbours Bed whose hands haue beene employed in rauishing young Virgins and whose tongues haue spent all their force and Oratorie to corrupt and betray honest thoughts to wicked and loose desires Didst thou so seuerely rebuke and punish thy Seruant Dauid a man as the Scripture testifieth according to thy owne heart for one Transgression that neither his Contrition Penance Fasting Almes-deedes could diuert or turne away thy Anger And shall I miserable and leprous sinner who haue all my life worne my heart in my eyes lusting after euery obiect hope to escape thy furie What Woman haue I not coueted What Complexion hath not beene the fuell of my lewd thoughts Pardon O mercifull Lord and Sauiour an humble and penitent sinner who confesseth and acknowledgeth his hainous sinnes and offences and much sorroweth and lamenteth to haue mis-imployed his time and bodie in the lasciuious acts and concupiscences of the
minde before the Throne of his diuine iustice I acknowledge confesse and yeeld my selfe lawfully attached and conuicted of high Treason against his diuine Maiestie and guilty of the death and Passion of Iesus Christ by reason of the hainous sinnes which I haue committed for which he dyed and suffered the torment of the Crosse so that consequently I am worthy to be cast away and damned for euer But turning my selfe towards the Throne of the infinite mercy of the selfe-same eternall God hauing detested from the bottome of my heart and with all my force the iniquities of my life fore-passed I most humbly require and craue pardon grace and mercy with entire absolution from my cryme through vertue of the Passion and death of the same Sauiour and Redeemer of my soule vpon whom relying as vpon the onely foundation of my hope I confirme againe aduowe and renew the sacred profession of loyall seruice and fidelitie made in my name and behalfe vnto my GOD at my baptizing renouncing the Diuell the Flesh and the World abhorring the execrable suggestions vanities and concupiscence for all the time of this present life and for all eternitie and conuerting my selfe vnto my most gracious and mercifull God I desire deliberate purpose and fully resolue irreuocably to honor him serue him loue him now and for euer giuing him for this end and dedicating and consecrating my spirits with all his faculties my soule with all her functions my heart with all his affections and my body with all his sences protesting neuer more to abuse any one part of my beeing or nature against his diuine will and soueraigne Maiestie To whom I offer vp and sacrifice my selfe in spirit to be to him a loyall obedient and faithfull creature for euermore Amen 29. A Prayer to be said in Afflictions and Troubles O Eternall and euer-liuing God the Father of all Consolation and Mercies the giuer of all things good and vertuous who art vnto vs as a Nurse vnto a childe a Shepheard vnto a wandring Lambe a Guide of our wayes a Guardian of our persons a Counsellour in doubts a Comforter in troubles a Patron in our needes and an assured Friend in all afflictions graciously assist vs in all our tribulations and aduersities being an assured tryall of thy seruants For whom thou louest thou chastisest Suffer me to bee tempted O Lord not ouercome rebuked not forsaken bruised with thy rod not broken for my soule is heauy within me and my enemies haue preuailed against me yea my Spirit repineth and my flesh grudgeth that thy hand is so heauy on mee I goe like one that hath lost his way shooting my eyes into the earth as desiring to be buried in my misfortunes All my friends haue left me and my company is my owne thoughts which are displeasing vnto me My eyes are great with teares my tongue laboureth with my mis-fortunes so that I seeme to others a piece of earth wrapped in woe and calamity Comfort me O Lord and I shall be comforted shoote thy holy Spirit into me and I shall bee disburdened lighten the beames of thy mercy vpon me and I shall shine in prosperity for it is my sinnes O Lord which haue confounded mee it is the multitude of my wickednesses which haue drowned the multitude of thy ioyes it is my guilt which banisheth thy goodnesse Turne backe O Lord and mercifully looke vpon me as thou didst vpon thy holy Apostle and faithfull seruant S. Peter that I may not onely weep but bitterly lament my misdeeds and offences who haue denyed my onely Lord and Master all the dayes of my life swearing as one that knew him not and blaspheming as certainely neither beleeuing nor fearing the punishments which haue ouer-growne me But if alas through suggestion of mine enemy or through humane frailty I chance any time to transgresse in any thing whatsoeuer giue me grace O Lord by the aide of the Holy Ghost to arise againe so soone as I shall perceiue my fall and so to returne anew to the Diuine Mercy without any stay or delay whatsoeuer Let it please thee O my eternall God Almighty and all good Father Son and Holy Ghost to confirme and strengthen mee in this resolution of my amendment and to accept this Cordiall and inward Sacrifice in the odor of sweetnesse O my God thou art my God God of my heart God of my soule God of my spirit and for such doe I reuerently thankfully and louingly acknowledge honour and adore thee now and for euer 30. Another Prayer for remission of sinnes O Benigne Iesu the onely refuge of desolate and afflicted soules the comfort and succour of those that are laden and oppressed mercifully heare and pitifully receiue the prayers and supplications of one conceiued and borne in sinne who acknowledgeth and confesseth before the Throne of thy Diuine Maiesty that hee is too base and altogether vnworthy to speake nay looke and much lesse to be heard and regarded in this his extremity who in time of health hath contemned and neglected his Physicion in time of iollity and prosperity hath neither thriftily prouided nor wisely preuented the daies of horror and desolation who being cruelly accused by his owne conscience of many high and detestable treason against the King of Kings and Lord of Lords his thoughts and senses bearing witnes against him hath neither treasure to ransome him nor friend to pleade for him wealth preuaileth not with him who is infinite in Riches Titles and Honours are momentany shadowes in his presence who aduanceth and degradeth whom hee pleases Kindred and friends dare not bee seene before so pure and iust a Iudge in so foule and vniust a cause What wilt thou then doe O my soule in these straights and extremities Whither wilt thou flye for succour Heauen is his dwelling place the earth his foot-stoole the Mountaines hee will remoue and his iustice diues into the bottome of the Sea Fall then before him and all prostrate lift vp thy voyce implore his mercy desire his pardon sue vnto him kneele before him lay hold of him and let him not depart O my soule till hee hath at least granted thee a Reprieue for thy horrible and lewd transgressions which obtained whilst his wrath is a little slackened thy teares may mollifie and get betweene thee and his definitiue sentence Consider duely what friends thou canst make and due consideration will make contrition a speciall fauorite of our Sauiours pleade heartily for thee who in thy behalfe promising a detestation of thy former offences with an assured purpose and resolution of amendment ioyned with a continuance and progresse in good workes and holy exercises may for our Sauiour delights to heare him purchase thee an absolute pardon Grant me therefore most sweet and amiable Lord to imploy the remnant of my life in studying to be acquainted with these thy holy friends and fauorites Giue O Sauiour a fountaine of teares vnto my eyes that I may continually lament and bewayle
VNsearchable O Lord are iudgements and wonderful the workes of thy hand thou hast made fashioned a Lump of flesh in my wombe thou hast giuen it life to grow to feed and be nourished thou hast adorned and beautified it with limbes and senses thou hast in thy mercy inspired a liuing soule into it whereby it may hereafter be capable of thy loue and euerlasting felicitie Now the period O Lord draweth neere and the time appointed for the deliuery giuing vp this burden be neer O merciful Father vnto thy seruant strengthen me in this my sore labour and trauell comfort me O Lord in my agony that I faint not vnder the throwes and dreadfull pangs of the approaching neere-ensuing birth let no vaine feares affright me or the thoughts of what I must suffer be terrible vnto me Let me be comforted O Lord in thy promise and the blessing that must proceed from my Ioynes hearten me patiently to endure my torments hasten O Lord my deliuery and giue the fruite of my womb an easie passage that with the sight of a well-formed childe I may be made a ioyfull mother grant it O Lord right shape and keepe the life which thou hast giuen vnto it that it may be borne anew of water and the holy Spirit to be made partaker and heire of thy euerlasting Kingdome But if O Lord thou in thy eternall Wisedome hast otherwise prouided for me appointing me in the neuer-againe dying birth to be restored vnto thee mercifully assist me in this my last passage that confident in thy promises made to all I may ioyfully giue my selfe as a well-pleasing sacrifice awaiting thy diuine Pleasure and commending and committing my selfe into thy hands patiently expect the blessed houre to be deliuered from the sinfull prison of this transitory world into that euerlasting Habitation where dwelleth infinite ioy world without end Amen 59. A Prayer to bee said when you goe into your bed BLesse me O Lord preserue and keepe mee from all the dangers of this night Saue and deliuer me from the ancient enemie who through immoderate sloth negligence hopeth to betray me Visite O Lord my soule though farre too meane to entertaine so royall a Guest yet sending thine owne prouision before thee holy vertues chaste and simple thoughts thy lodging may be the better prepared for thee Settle and gouerne O Lord my phantasie that it range and forme not wilde and vnlawfull apparations stay my memorie that it search not after vaine and idle pleasures fill my vnderstanding with thy goodnesse and mercy that being wholly and inwardly busied with thee I may escape the snares and nets of Satan and wake to my owne comfort and thy glorie sweete IESVS Amen 60. A Prayer against idle Talke SEt a watch O Lord before my lips that I defile not my mouth with dishonest and vnseemely speeches betraying the hearers to sinne and vncleannesse Keepe me from their companie whose delight is in wicked talke lest I perish with them Let my tongue deliuer forth thy prayses and be the Trumpet of thy neuer-ending mercies grant me a single and vnpolluted heart that I may reuerently adore thy Mysteries and bee the honorer of thy Glorie and Maiesty Keepe my eyes from wandring after the concupiscence of my desires that I bee not ouertaken and made prisoner to sinne and death Place my thoughts vpon thy bitter Passion whose mournefull acts may put away all idle delights and pleasures and fasten mee vpon thy Crosse to weepe and lament my passed offences for that sweete Name of IESVS in whose merites all flesh must be saued 61. A Thankes-giuing O God most high most mightie Creator of heauen and earth which out of Nothing hast made and formed this beautifull All createdst the glorious Firmament fretted with Starres the euer-shining Sunne to giue light by day and firest the Moone to banish the nights darkenesse giuing life to the Fowles of the Aire the Beasts feeding on the Earth and the Fishes whose dwelling is in the waters below for the vse and seruice of man making him according to thy owne Image ennobling him with Vnderstāding Will and Memorie to conceiue and apprehend the glorious workes of thy hand Redeemed him with an vnparalell'd example preserued and kept him with an vnimitable care and prouidence How shall hee render thee condigne and worthie prayses for these thy vnspeakeable and vndeserued benefites How shall hee tender to thy diuine Maiestie thankes equall and befitting such infinite and innumerable graces How many O LORD haue dyed in the womb How many neuer attained the blessed regeneration of Baptisme How many reconciled and entred into the state of grace haue through their owne corruption frailtie and the suggestion of the diuell lost it and falne away from the faith of thy neuer-erring Word How often O Lord haue I transgressed and sinned spurned at thy secret Callings and refused to entertaine them and yet O Lord hast thou patiently expected my conuersion giuen me further time to repent me of my carelesnesse and back-sliding sending thy holy grace to enable me to call vpon thee for mercy and forgiuenes Prayse God O my soule for his louing kindnes endureth frō generation vnto generation he hath not dealt so with euery man nor so aboundantly showred his fauor to all his people I wil magnifie him from the rising of the Sun vnto the going downe of the same who hath raised me from death and not suffered mee to goe downe into the Pit who hath forgotten my wickednesse and remembred himselfe of his goodnes glorie be vnto thee on high and praise vpon earth who hath giuen charge to his Angels to keepe vs in all our wayes 62. A Prayer for direction in all our affaires GIue me grace O mercifully and truely louing Lord that I may with all singlenesse of heart ardency and earnestnesse of spirit wisely and carefully search after those things which may be pleasing vnto thee Order and so dispose of me that I may faithfully and truely performe those things which thou requirest of me and giue me knowledge O Lord to doe it as it ought and is most expedient for my owne soule Grant O Lord God that I neither grow presumptuous seated in Prosperity nor be cast downe despairing with the frownes of Aduersitie Let thy fauour be my onely delight and my discontent thy displeasure Let me endeuour to please none nor be afraid to displease any but thy selfe Let all transitorie things be base in my sight and what belongeth to thee be onely acceptable and thou O God aboue all Let the paines O Lord which are for thee be aboue any pleasure and pleasure without thee seeme tedious and vnwelcome Grant me often to desire the accomplishment of good things and in my relapse to spring vp againe with full purpose of amendment Make me O Lord God obedient without grudging poore without quailing chaste without pollution patient without murmuring humble without dissembling merry without dissolutenes sad