THE POMAVNDER of Prayer Newly made by Thomas Becon ECCLE 24. ¶ Pleasauntly do I smell euē as it wer Cynamome and svvete Balme THOMAS BECONVS SACROSĀCTAE THEOLOGIAE PROFESSOR AETATIS SVAE .41 AN o DN̄I .1553 Ora expressa vides viuos imitantia vultus Quod potuit calamo pictor arte videt Mentis quā nullus potuit tibi reddere pict◠Effigiem scriptis praebuit ipse suis. To the moste honorable and vertuous Lady Anne of Cleue her grace syster to the hye and myghtye Prynce Wylliam Duke of Cleue c. Thomas Becon wysheth the fauor of God long lyfe and continuall health AMong many other godly and noble vertues whiche God by his holy spirit hath graffed in your graces breast most honorable Lady the feruent affection and continuall desyre of prayinge vnto the Lord our God hath neither the last nor the lest place in you And as God hath wrought in you by y e holy Ghost thys godly mind to call vpon his holy name with diligent prayer so lykewise doth your grace stur vp and confyrme that spirituall mocion w t the exercise of daily praier least that godly affecciō shuld be quēched which the holy Ghost hath kindled in your heart For your grace doth rightwell consider y t God deliteth in nothynge more then in y e inuocacion of his blessed name and in the sacrifice of thankes geuing for his benefits Where the name of God is diligently called vpon most humble and harty thāks geuen vnto him for his fatherly and frendly giftes there is hys blessing grace and fauoure plenteous there is the holy Ghost present there is a mery conscience ther al thīgs prosper there wanteth no good thing Contynue therfore most honorable Lady as ye haue godly begun both you and all your faithful family to call on the glorious name of the Lord our God with feruent prayer and forget not to be thankfull vnto hym for hys benefites wherwith aboue many other he hath richly endued your grace So shal he be your louing Lord gracious God your fauorable father and strōg shilde So shall he make your grace to prosper in al your doings blesse you both with longlyfe and much honor And that your grace may haue at hand conuement prayers to pray vnto the Lord our God I thought it good consyderyng your graces manifold vertues to geue vnto you this my Pommaunder of prayer wherein are breeflye contayned suche godlye prayers as are most mete in this our age to be vsed of all degrees and estates most humbly beseching your grace to take in good part this my rude and bolde enterprise according to your accustomed gentlenesse God whose glory you hartely loue whose word you ioifulli embrace whose name you earnestly call vppon mought vouchesafe to preserue your grace in continuall health and encrease of honoure Amen Your Graces most humble and faithfull Oratoure Thomas Becon ¶ The Pomaūder of Prayer ¶ A Prayer for the morning I Render vnto thee O heauenly father most hartye thankes by thy deare sonne Iesus Christ that this night past thou hast vouchedsafe of thy fatherlye goodnes to preserue me from all euill to geue my bodye rest and slepe I now most entierly beseche thee y t as thou hast raised vp this my body frō slepe so likewise thou wylt delyuer my mynde from the slepe of synne and from the darknesse of this world that I walking in the lyght of thy blessed worde maye onely doo that is pleasaunt in thy sight profitable to my neighbour and healthfull to my soule Amen ¶ A prayer for y e Euening I Most humbly thanke the O mercifull Father for preseruinge me this day frō all misfortunes and for thy other benefites wherewyth thou hast plēteously blessed me I beseche y e forgeue me al my sinnes wherwyth I haue offended thy fatherlye goodnes from the very beginnīg of my lyfe vnto this present houre and take me this night into thy tuicion y tmyne enemies maye haue no power ouer me but that my body enioyinge a sweet slepe my minde may continually watch vnto thee and through fayth beholde thy blessed maiesty with a perfect hope after this frayle transitory lyfe to possesse y timmortal and heauenly lyfe where thou gloriously lyuest and reignest with thy onlye begotten sonne and y e holye Ghost one true and euerlastyng God worldes without ende Amen A prayer for the forgeuenes of synne O My Lord and onely sauior Iesu Christ which camest into thys worlde to take away the heuy burdēs of them that were loden to seke that was lost to call synners vnto repentaunce to geue euerlastynge lyfe to the faithfull and to be a mediator betwene God the father and vs I poore wretched sinner from the verye hart lament and inwardly bewayle my synnefull and wretched lyfe desiryng the for thy promyse sake according to thy mercyfull wont to be my mediatour and aduocate vnto God the father that he maye forgeue me all mine olde sinnes so wholy possesse my hart by his blessed spirite that he mai defēde me against al perils to come which the diuel the world or the flesh imagineth against me and so chaunge me into a new man that mine olde sinnes being wyped awaye in thi precious bloud I may walke frō vertue to vertue vnto the glory and praise of his blessed name Amen A prayer vnto God the father THy dearly beloued sōne O most louing father taught vs in hys holy Gospel that to know the to be y e alone true God is euerlasting lyfe Graunt therfore we beseche thee y t we may truly knowe thee euen as we are taught by thy holye word beleue with the hart and cōfesse with the mouth that thou alone art the true liuing and immortall God our heauēly father our maker our preseruer and our defender that we thus beleuing and confessing maye through thy sonne Christ be come heires of euerlastyng lyfe And as we thus beleue and confesse of thee ▪ so geue vs grace to shew forth thys our faith by godly conuersacion and vertuous liuing y tmē seeing our good workes may glorify thee our heuēly father to whom be prayse for euer Amen ¶ A prayer vnto God the sonne O Lord Iesu christ y e sōne of y e liuing God yea very God himself begottē of god y e father frō euerlasting continuing true immortal God worlds w tout end by thee al thīgs wer made both inheauen and in earth by thee also they be cōserued kept in a order thou art the bryghtnesse of thy fathers glorye thou art the verye image of hys substāce in thee are hid al y e treasures of wysedome and knowledge in y e dwelleth al fulnes by thee ar we reconcyled to God y e father by thee ar we sette at peace with him through y e bloud of the crosse bi thee haue we free accesse vnto y e glorious throne of Gods maiestye by thee are we brought in
haue not one office so likewyse we being many making one body whereof thy dearely beloued Sonne is the head haue not all one gifte neyther are we all called to one office but as it hath pleased y e to distribute so receyue we We therfore moste humbly pray thee to send the spirit of loue concord amōg vs that without any disorder or debate eueri one of vs may be content w e our calling quietly lyue in y e same study to doo good vnto all men by the true and diligēt exercise therof without to muche seking of our owne priuat gain so order our lyfe in all points according to thy godly will that by wel doing we mai stop y e mouthes of such foolish and ignoraunt people as report vs to be euill dooers cause thē through our good works to glorify thēe our Lord god in y t dai of visitacion Amen ¶ For the Grace fauour of God WHosoeuer liueth w t out thy grace fa uour O moste gracious and fauorable Lorde although for a time he waloweth in all kinde of fleshely pleasures and abound with to muche wordly ryches yet is he nothing els but y e wretched bond slaue of sathan the vile dūghil of syn Al his pleasure is extreme poison all his welth is nothing but plain beggeri For what felicitie can ther be where thy grace and fauour wanteth ▪ But where thi grace and fauour is present though the Deuel roar the world rage y e flesh swel ther is true blissednes vnfained pleasure cōtinual welth Pour down therfore thi heauēly grace fatherly fauour vpō vs that we beeynge assured of thy fauorable goodnes towards vs may reioyce and glory in thee and haue mery hartes when so euer we be most assailed with any kinde of aduersitie be it pouerty or sicknes losse of freends or persecution for thy names sake to whom be glorye for euer Amen ¶ For the gift of the holy Ghost SO frayl is our nature so vile is our flesh so lewd is our hart so corrupt are our affects so wicked are al our thoughts euen frō our child hod vpward y t of our selues we can nether thinck breath speak or doo any thing y t is praise worthy in thy sight O heauenly father yea except thou doost assist vs with thy mercifull goodnes all things are so far out of frame in vs that we se nothing present in our selues but thy heauy displeasure and eternal damnacion Uouche safe therfore O swete father to send thy holy spirite vnto vs whiche may make vs new creatures put away frō vs al fleshly lustes fil our harts w t new affects spiritual mociōs so altogether renew vs bothe in body soule through his godly in spiracion y twe may dye vnto olde Adam lyue vnto thee in newnes of lyfe seruynge thee our Lorde God in holines and righteousnes all y e daies of our lyfe Amen ¶ For the true knowledge of our selues IT is written in thy holye Gospel moste louing Sauiour y t thou cammest into this world not to call y e righteous that is such as iustifie thē selues but sinners vnto repentaunce Suffer me not therfore o lord to be in y e nūber of those iusticiaris which boasting their owne righteousnes theyr owne wurks and merits despise that righteousnes that commeth by faith whiche alone is alowable before thee Giue me grace to knowe to knowledge my selfe as I am euen y e sonne of wrath by nature a wretched synner and an vn profitable seruaunt wholy to depend on thy mercifull goodnes with strōg and vnshaken faith y t in this world thou mayest continually call me vnto true repentaunce seeyng I continually sinne and in y e worlde to come brīg me vnto euerlasting glorye Amen ¶ For a pure and clene Hart. THe hart of man naturalli is lewd and vnsearcheable through the multitude of sinns which as in a stinking dūghil lyeth buried in it in so much that no man is able to say mi hart is clene and I am cleane from syn Remoue from me therfore O heauēly Father my leud stony stuburn stincking and vnfaithfull hart Creat in me a clene hart free from al noisom and vngodly thoughts Breath into my hart by thy holy spirit godly and spirituall mocions that out of the good treasure of the hart I maye bring foorth good things vn to the praise and glory of thy name Amen ¶ For a quiet conscience THe wicked is like a ragīg sea whyche is neuer in quiet neither is ther ani peace to the vngodly but such as loue thy law O Lorde they haue plenty of peace they haue quiet mindes and contented consciences whiche is the greatest treasure vnder y e Sun geuē of thee to so mani as seek it at thy hand wyth true faith cōtinuall praier Gyue me O Lord that ioyfull Iewell euen a quyet mynde and a free mery conscience y tI beeing free from the damnable accusacions of Sathā from the crafty perswacions of the worlde from the subtil entysements of the flesh from the heauy curs of the law and fully perswaded of thy merciful goodnes toward me through faith in thy Sonne Christe Iesu may quietly serue thee both bodyly and ghostly in holines and rightuousnes al the dayes of my lyfe Amen ¶ For Faith FOrasmuche as nothīg pleaseth thee that is doon w t out faith appereit before the blinde world neuer so beautyful and commendable but is counted in thy sight sinfull and damnable yea the selfe syn and damnacion this is moste humbly to desyre thee O father for Christes sake to breathe into my hart bi thi Spirit this moste precious and singular gifte of faith which worketh by Charity whereby also we ar iustified and receiued into thy fauor y t I truly beleeuing in thee and fully perswaded of the trueth of thy holy word may be made thy sonne and inheritour of euerlasting glorye throughe Iesu Chryste our Lorde Amen ¶ For Charitie THy cognisaunce badge whereby thy Disciples are knowen O Lorde sauiour Iesu Christe is charitie or loue which cometh out of a pure hart and of a good conscience and of faith vnfayned I pray thee therfore gyue me this Christen loue and perfect charitie that I may loue thee my Lord God with all my hart with al my minde with all my soule and with all my strēgths dooing alway of very loue y t onely whiche is pleasaunte in thy sight again that I may loue my neighbour and Christen Brother as my self wishing as well to him as to my self redy at al tymes to doo for him what so euer lieth in my power that when we al shal stād before thy dreadful iudgyng place I beeing knowē by thy badge may be nūbred among thy disciples and so through thy mercye receyue the reward of eternall glory Amen ¶ For Pacience WHen thou liuedst in thys world O Lorde Christe thou shewedst thy self a mere mirrour
mine vngracious frowardnes and his meeknes against my ferse crueltie Let his humilitie recompence my pride his pacience mine impacience his gentlenes mine vnkinde churlishnes his obedience my disobedience his quyetnes mine vnquietnes his plesaūt towardnes my bitter frowardnes his sweet facilitie and gentlenes mine anger and freating fumes to cōclude let his charitie make amendes for my hemous and dedetestable crueltie Amen ¶ A deuout Prayer to the holy Ghost NOw O almighty and holy Ghost whiche art the loue of the deuine power the holy participator partner with the almighty father and his moste blessed sōne the moste mercifull comforter of the sorowful I beseeche thee to slide by thy mighty power into thinward partes of mine hart that thou dwelling there maist make glad and as it were lighten euery dark corner of the neglect and forletten cōtage w t the bright shining of thy lyght that in visiting y e same y u wouldest ornate deck with y e plenteousnes of thy dew y e lothsome places therof whiche be corrupted with filthines Kin del the preuy wounded partes of the inner man with thy holsom flames and with pearcing the in ward partes of my soul entrails with the dart of thy loue Feed all the inner partes bo the of my minde body by the illuminating and lightening with y e fire of thy holy feruent loue Geue me to drink of thy most pleasaūt riuer to thintent I may haue no lust to taste any worldly things whiche be mixed with poyson Geue sentēce with me o lorde and defend my cause against the vngodly nation Teache me to doo thy wil because thou art my God For I beleue that in whō so euer thou doost dwell thou buildest an hous in him for the Father also the Sonne Blessed is that man that getteth such a gest because that by thee y e father and the sōne also will dwel and abide with him Come now O moste louing cōforter of my sorowful soule whiche art a pro tector in all necessities and an help in troubles and aduersities Como purger of sinnes healer and curer of woūdes Come the strength of the fraill and feeble the releeuer and raiser vp of thē that slide Come the instructer reacher of the humble and meek the destroyer and plucker down of the proud and stubbern Com the good and kinde father of the fatherles the gētle iudge of widowes Come thou whiche art a gide vnto them that ar tossed in the waues of this tempestuous world like as a bright and notable star is to them that sail on the sea an hauen vnto thē that are afraid of shipwrak Com the wurship honor of all them that liue the only health of the dead Come most holi ghost come and haue mercy on me make me meete for thee and mercifully graunt vnto me according to y e multitud of thy great mercies y tmy basenes may please thy maiestie and my weaknes thy allmighty power for Iesu Christe my sauioures sake which with the fathers and thine vnitie liueth and reigneth worlde without end Amen ☞ A prayer to the holi Trinitie WIth all my hart and mouthe doo I confesse praise blesse thee O God the father vnbegot ten and thee O God the sonne only begotten also thee O holy ghost and comfortour to thee be glory in the world of worldes Amen An acknowledging of almighty God and his Maiesty O Most high Trinitie one only power and vndeuided Ma iesty our God God almighty I the abiect and hin moste of al thy seruaunts confes and acknowledge thee and beeing the least mēbre of thy church I wurship thee w t a due sacrifice of praise for as much as I am able can according to that whiche thou hast vouchsafed to endue me w tal And for as muche as I am destitute of outward gifts to offer vnto the. Those vowes of praise whiche I haue of the gift of thy mercy behold willingly gladly I offer them to thee which be an vnfained faith and a pure cōsciece I beleue therfore with all my hart O king of heauen and Lorde of the earth and with my mouthe doo I confes thee the father the sonne and holy ghost to bee three in persons and one in substaunce the true and very God almighty of one simple in corporal and inuinsible nature incomprehensible and of suche a nature as is not in a place as other natures bee and that thou hast nothing superiour or aboue thy selfe or lower or any thing bigger then thy self But in all maner of meanes perfect with out all spot of deformitie that thou art great without quantitie good without qualitie euer lasting without time life without death strong without infirmity or wekenes true without lying presēt in euery place with out any situatiō or being placed in any place to be al eueri where w tout place fulfilling all things without stretchīg forth thy hād going euery where without any contradiction or gaine saying passing ouer al thinges without mouing abiding win all things without ani kinde of proportiō making al thinges hauing need of nothing gouerning al things without labor geuing all thinges their beginning hauing no beginning thy selfe Making all thinges mutable and variable thy self being without all kinde of mutabilitie in greatnes with oute measure in power almighty in goodnes the cheef best in wisdome inestimable in counsels intentes purposes terrible and fearfull In iudgmentes most vpright iust in cogitations thoughtes most secret in wurdes true in wurkes holy in mercies abundant plentiful toward offenders most patiēt to ward the penitēt and those that be sory for their sinnes most gen tle louing Alwayes the same euerlasting and continually cōtinuing immortall and in commutable impossible to be chaūged or altered whom nether the amplitude or largenes of places doth make bigger nor the short nes or littlenes of places lesser nor any places or corners can cō teine or pres together neyther dooth thy will or intent vary or alter nor familiaritie or acquaītance corrupte thee nor sorowful things trouble or amase the nor glad thinges make thee plesaunt or frolike as a man wold say from thee can forgetfulnes take nothing nor mindfulnes or remembraunce geue any thing nether are things passed vnto vs passed also vnto thee nor things whiche to vs are to come come toward thee for nether beeginning dooth geue any beginning to thee nor time any increase nor yet chaunce geueth thee any end But before all worldes and in worldes and by worldes into euerlasting thou doost liue and thou hast continual praise perpetuall glory moste hie power singuler honor euerlasting king dom and rule and imperie without end thorow the infinit and vnwery and immortall world of worlds ¶ After what sorte God the father vouchedsafe to helpe mankind and of the incarnation of the wurd whiche is Christe and of the geuing of thanks HItherto O almighty God the beholder and sercher
through faith vnto his grace wherin we stāde and reioyce in hope of the glory of God we thanke thee for all thy benefytes moste humbly beseeche thee to geue vs grace faithfully to beleue in thee stedfastly to confesse thee true God and true mā earnestlye to acknowledge thee our alone redemer sauiour Satisfier Recōciler Intercessor Mediator and Aduocate that we altogether depending on thee and thy merites on thy blessed passion precious death and glorious resurrection maye study through thy grace so to order our lyfe in true holines and innocency that at the day of iudgement thou mayst present vs both body and soule vnto thy heauenly father and so for euer and euer placevs in thi glorious kingdome Amen ¶ Unto God the holy ghost O Holy and blessed spirit which being true and euerlasting God with God the father and God y e sonne procedest from them bothe full of maiestie and power which also with thy heauēly breath quycknest y e mides of thē that afore were dead through sinne makest mery the hartes of y e faithful penitent bringest into y e waye of truth al suche as haue erred and are deceyued settest at one such as wer at debate cō fortest the soules of them y thūger and thirst after righteousnes and plenteouslye enrichest them w t diuers giftes whyche pray vnto thee in the name of Iesu Christ Purifye our hartes we beseeche thee with the fyre of thy loue mortify in vs what soeuer is not thine renue garnishe our mindes with thy heauenly benefites and spirituall giftes that they may be made thy temples leade vs into all necessary trueth suffer vs not to be caried about with diuers straunge doctryne but alway to remaine in that doctryne wherof thou alone art y e author enarme our soules against the crafty assaultes of suttil Satan against the vain pleasures of the wicked world and against the leude lustes of filthy fleshe that we beeing replenished with thy holy breath may doo y toneli whiche is acceptable in thy godly sight Amen ¶ Particular prayers to be sayed of the Magistrates FOrasmuch as it is thi godli pleasure O king of kinges and Lorde of Lordes to appoint me among other a ruler of thy people geue me grace I beseeche thee so to minister the commō weale and so to execute my office y t I may please thee and hurt no man in all my doinges but iudge equally and iustli rule according to thy wyll shewe my self a father vnto thy people and so behaue my self in all myne enterprises y t I seking thy glory y e furtheraunce of thy blessed gospel the weale of y tsubiectes may when thou shalt render to euery man according to hys deeds be found blameles in thy sight through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen ¶ Of the ministers of Gods word Thou hygh Priest and O euerlasting bishop Iesus Christ the alone teacher of all godly trueth and the onely Curate of oure soules whyche by thy holye worde hast appointed some of thy congregacion to be Ministers and Preachers of thy blessed lawe and Gloryous gospell y t by this meanes the holy ghost also working they may call synners vnto repentaunce preache remission of synnes in thy name perswade vnto vertue and disswade frō vice forasmuch as it hath pleased thee to cal me an vnprofitable seruaūt vnto that holy office of ministracion and to make me a preacher of thy worde I moste humbly beseeche thee to geue me thy holy spirite whiche may lead me in to all trueth instruct me with the knowledge of thy holimisteries and through his heauenly inspiracion so prepare my harte and order my tūg that I may neyther thinke breath nor speak any thyng but that may turne vnto thy glory and the edifying of thy flock Graunt also that what soeuer I preache in word I may fulfil the same in work vnto the example of that thy flock which thou haste purchased w t thi precious bloud y t when thou the cheef shepeheard shalt appeare I beyng found faithfull in my office mai through thi goodnes re ceiue y e incorruptible crown of glory Amen ¶ Of Subiectes or Commens AS it is thy godly appoītment O Lorde God y tsum should bear rule in this worlde to see thy glorye set forth and the commō peace kepte so it is thy pleasure againe that some should be subiectes and inferiours to other in theyr vocation although before thee there is no respecte of persons And forasmuch as it is thy good wil to appoint me in the nūber of subiectes I beseeche thee to geue me a faithfull an obediēt hart vnto the hye powers y t there may be foūd in me no disobedience no vn faithfulnes no reasō no falshod no dissimulacion no iusurrectiō no cōmociō no cōspiracy nor ani kind of rebelliō in word or in dede agaīst the ciuil magistrates but all faithfulnes obediēce quietnes subiectiō humility and whatsoeuer els becommeth a subiecte that I liuīg here in all lowlinesse of mynde may at the last day through thy fauoure be lifted vp vnto euerlasting glory where thou with the father and y e holy ghost liueste raignest very God for euer Amen ¶ Of Fathers and Mothers THe frute of the wombe the multitude of childrē is thy gifte and blessing O Lorde geuen to this ende y t they may liue to thy glory the cōmodity of their neighbour For asmuche therfore as thou of thy goodnes hast geuen me children I beseeche thee geue me also grace to traine them vp euen from theyr Cradels in thy nourtoure doctrine in thy holy lawes blessed ordinaūces that from theyr very yonge age they may know thee beleue in thee feare loue thee and diligently walke in thy commaundements vnto the praise of thy glorious name Amen ¶ Of Children THou haste geuen a commaundemēt in thy law O heauēly father that children should honour theyr fathers and mothers I moste humbly beseeche thee therfore to breath thy holy spirit into my brest that I maye reuerence and honoure my father mother not oneli w t outward gestures of mi body but also with the vnfayned affecciō of the hart loue them obey them pray for them help them and doo for thē both in worde and dede whatsoeuer lyeth in my power that thou seeing myne vnfayned harty good wil toward my Parentes mayst become my louing heauenly father number me among those thy children whō thou hast appointed from euerlasting heires of thy glorious kyngdom through thy welbeloued sonne Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen ¶ Of Masters THy commaundement is by thine holy Apostle O most merciful Lord Christ y e masters should entreat their seruauntes gently puttyng away threatninges doing that vnto thē whiche is iust and equal forasmuch as we also haue a maister in heauē with whom there is no respect of persones Graūt I most hartely pray thee I may so order my seruauntes that I attēpt none vnrighteousnes against them but
of perfect pacience sufferīg quietly not y e spiteful words but also y e cruel dedes of thi most cruel enemies forgeuing thē praying for thē whiche moste tyranlike hādled thee Giue me grace O thou moste meek and louing lamb of God to folow this thy pacience quietly to bear the slaunderous wordes of mine aduersaries paciently to suffer the cruel dedes of mine enemies to forgiue thē to pray for them yea to doo good for thē by no meanes to go about once to auenge my selfe but rather giue place vnto wrath seeing y t vengeaunce is thine and y u wilt reward seing also that thou helpest them to theyr ryght that suffer wronge that I thus paciently suffering all euils may after ward raign with thee in glory Amen ⧠For Humilitie WHat haue we O heauēly Father that we haue not receyued ▪ Euery good gyfte and euery perfect gift is frō aboue and cometh downe from thee which art the father of lightes Seyng then all y t we haue is thine whether it pertaine to the body or to the soule how can we be proud and boast our selues of that whiche is none of our own seing also y t as to geue so to take away againe thou art able and wilt whēsoeuer thy gifts be abused and thou not knowledged to be the giuer of them Take therfore away from me all pride hautynesse of mynd and graffe in me true humilitie that I may knowledge thee the giuer of al good things be thāk full vnto thee for them vse them vnto thy glorye and the profyte of my neyghboure Graunt also that all my glorye and reioysynge maye bee in no earthly creatures but in thee alone whiche doost mercy equitie and ryghtuousnes vpon earth To thee alone be all glory Amen ⧠For Mercifulnes THy deerelye beloued sōne in his holy Gospell exhorted vs to be mercyfull euē as thou our heauenly Father art merciful and promisest that if we be merciful to other we shall obtaine merci of thee which art the father of mercies and God of al consolacion Graunt therfore that for asmuch as thou art oure Father and we thy children we may resemble thee in all our life and conuersaciō and that as thou art beneficial liberal not onli to y e good but also to the euil so we likewise mai shew our selues merciful gentil and liberall to so many as haue nede of our healp y tat the dredful day of dome we may be found in the number of those merciful whom thou shalt appoint by thy onely begotten sonne to go into euerlasting lyfe to whō with thee and the holy ghost be all honour and praise Amen For true godlynes IN thy law O thou maker of heauen and earth thou hast appoynted vs a waye to walke in and hast commanded that we shuld tourn neither on the right hand nor on the left but doo according to thy good will and pleasure with out adding of our own good entents and fleshly imaginacions As thou hast cōmaunded so giue me grace good Lorde to doo Let me neither folowe mine owne will nor the fancies of other men neither let me be begiled with the visar of olde customes long vsages fathers decres auncient lawes nor any other thing that ffghteth with thy holy ordinaunces blessed commaundemēt but faithfully beleue stedfastly confes y t to be the true godlines which is learned in thy holy Bible according vnto that to order my life vnto the praise of thy holy name Amē ⧠For the true vnderstanding of Gods word O Lorde as thou alone art the Authour of the holy scriptures so lykewyse can no manne althoughe neuer so wise politike and learned vnderstand them except he be taught by thy holy spiryt which alone is the Scholemaster to lead the faithfull into all truth Uouchesafe therfore I moste humbly beseeche thee to breath into my hart thy blessed Spirit whiche may renew the senses of my minde open my wits reuele vnto me the true vnderstāding of thy holy misteries ▪ and plant in me such a certaine and infailyble knowledge of thy truthe that no subtyll perswasyon of mans wysdom may pluck me from thy truth but that as I haue lerned the true vnderstāding of thy blessed wyll so I may remayne in the same continually come lyfe come death vnto the glory of thy blessed name Amen ⧠For a lyfe agreable to our knowledge AS I haue prayd vnto thee O heauenly Father to be taught the true vnderstāding of thi blessed word by thi holy spirit so I moste entierly beseech thee to giue me grace to lead a lyfe agreable to my knowledge Suffer me not to be of the number of them which profes that they know God with theyr mouth but deny hym with theyr dedes Let me not be lyke vnto that sonne which sayd vnto hys father that he would labour in his vineyeard and yet labored nothing at al but went abrode lottering idely Make me rather lyke vnto that good and fruteful land which yeldeth agayne her sede with great increase that men seing my good workes maye glorify thee my heauenly father Amen ⧠For the health of the body I Fele in my selfe O mercifull Sauiour how greuous a pryson thys my body is vnto my Soule which contynually wysheth to be loosoned oute of thys byle carcasse and to come vnto thee seeing it hath heere no reste but is at euery houre vexed wyth the filthy lustes of the flesh wyth the wicked assaultes of the deuyll and the worlde and is neuer at quiet but alway in daunger to be ouercome of her ennemyes were it not preserued of thy goodnes by the mynistery and seruice doing of thy holy Angels Notwythstāding O most louing lord forasmuch as it is thy good pleasure that my bodye and soule shall styl remain heere together as yet in this vale of mysery I beseche thee to preserue my soule from all vyce and my body from al sycknes that I enioying through thy benefyte the helth bothe of body and soule maye be the more able to serue thee my neighbour in such works as are acceptable in thy sighte Amen ⧠For a good name NOthing becometh y e professour of thy name better O heauenly Father thē so to behaue him selfe accordyng to hys professyon that he maye be well reported of them that be of the houshold of Faith yea such synceritie and purenes of lyfe ought to be in them which profes thy holy name that the very aduersaryes of thy truth should be ashamed once to mutter a gaynst them Giue me grace therfore I moste intierly desyre thee soo to frame my lyfe accordinge to the rule of thy blessed word that I may giue no man occasyō to speak euill of me but rather so lyue in my vocacion that I may be an exsample to other to liue Godly and vertuously vnto the honour and praise of thy glorious name Amen ⧠For a compitent liuing ALthough I doubt not of thy fatherly prouision
so vse my rule and authority ouer thē that I may alway remember that thou art the common Lord of all and we all thy seruauntes again y t I mai not forget that we be all brothers hauing one father which is in heauē and look for one glorious kingdome where thou with the father and the holy Ghost liuest and raygnest true and euerlastyng God for euer Amen ¶ Of Seruauntes O Lord we are cōmaunded by thy blessed Apostles that we should honour obey our bodely masters with fear and trembling not onely if they be good courteous but also though they be froward and serue them not vnto the eye as mē pleasers but with singlenes of hart not churlishly answering them againe nor picking stealing or conueying awaye anye parte of theyr goods vniustli but shewing all good faythfulnes vnto our masters as though we serued God and not men Graunt me grace I moste humbly beseeche thee so to serue my master and my superiours that there may be found no fault in me but y t I behauing my self vprightly iustly faithfully and truli in my vocacion maye doo worship to the doctrine of thee my God and Sauiour in all things Amen ¶ Of Mayds THere is nothing that becommeth a mayd better thē silence shame fastnes chastitye of bothe body and mynde For these thynges beīg once lost she is no more a maid but a Strompet in the sight of God howsoeuer she disgiseth her selfe dissembleth with the world I therfore moste humbly beseeche thee O merciful Father from whom commeth euery good and perfect gift and without whom we are able to doo nothing y t thou wilt so order my tong and dispose my talke y t I speak nothing but that become mi state age and person nether that I delight to heare any talk that might in any point moue me to lewdnes seeyng that euil words corrupt good maners Geue me also such shaine fastnes as may pluck me away from the delectacion either of thinking speaking hearing seing or doing euil that my whole delight may be in vertue in godlines in exchewing ydlenes in geuing my selfe continually to some godly exercyse but aboue all thinges in thinking and speaking of thee in reading thy blessed worde and heauenly law which is a lātern to my feet and a light to mi pathes Moreouer suffer neyther my minde to be defiled with euil thoughts nor my body to be corrupted with any kinde of vnclēnes but geue me grace so to order my self in exchewing idlenes and wanton wicked cōpany y tmy mynde being free from euill affectes and my bodye cleare from all vnclennes I may be found a mete temple for the holy Ghost to inhabit and if it bee thi good pleasure hereafter to call me vnto the honorable state of Matrimony y t I may bring also vnto my husbande a pure and vndefiled body and so liue with him in thi feare vnto y e praise and glori of thy blessed name Amen ¶ Of Singlemen LOrd thou hast commaunded by thine holi Apostle that we should abstaine from fornicacion and that euerye one of vs shoulde knowe how to keep his vessel that is to say his body in holines and honour and not in the lust of concupiscence as doo the heathen whiche knowe not God I beseeche thee geue me grace to behaue my selfe according to thys thy holy commaundemente ▪ that in this time of my single lyfe I defile not my body w t who redom or with ani other vnclennes but so order my self with all honesty and purenes of life that I may glorify thee my Lord God both in body and spirite Amen ¶ Of Husbandes FOrasmuche O heauenly father as thou hast called me from the single lyfe vnto the holy state of honourable wedlocke which is thy good and blessed ordinaūce for all them to liue in that haue not the gift of continēcy and hast geuen me a woman to wyfe that I liuing with her in thy feare mai auoid al vnclēnes I moste hartelye pray thee geue me grace to liue with her accordinge to thy godly pleasure Kil in me al filthy fleshly lustes Suffer me not to delyght in any straunge fleshe but to content my self onely with her loue to loue her as Christe loued the congregacion to cherishe her as I wold cherishe mine owne body so prouide for her according to my ability to instruct her with y e knowledge of thy blessed worde quietly and peaceably to liue with her and to agree together in suche perfecte concorde and vnitie as is founde among many members in one body ▪ seing now y t we also are nomore two but one fleshe that other seeyng our godly and quiet conuersacion may her by be prouoked to forsake theyr filthy liuing so embrace the holy state of honorable wedlock vnto y e glori praise of thi holi name Amē ¶ Of Wyues Lord forasmuch as thou Oof thy Fatherly goodnes hast vouchedsafe to keep me from my tender age vnto thys presente and hast now called me from mi single life vnto the holy state of honorable wedlock that I liuing therein might according to thine ordinaunce bring forth childrē vnto thy glori Geue me grace I moste entierlye beseche thee to walke worthy of mi vocacion to know ledge my husbande to be my head to be subiect vnto him to learn thy blessed word of him to reuerēce him to obey him to please him to be ruled by him peaceably and quietly to liue with him to weare suche apparell as is mete for midegree and bi no meanes to delight in costly Iewels and proud galaunt vestures but alway to vse suche clothing as become a sober Christen woman circumspectly warely to look vnto my housholde that nothing perish through my negligence and alwayes haue a diligent eye that no dishonesty no wickednes no vngodlynes be cōmitted in my house but y t in it all thinges be ordeined according to thy holy wil whiche art worthy all honour glory and prayse for euer and euer Amen ¶ Of Housholders TO haue childrē and seruaunts is thy blessinge O Lord but not to order thē according to thy word deserueth thy dredful cursse Graunt therfore that as y u hast blessed me with an houshold so I may diligentlye watche that nothing becommitted of y e same that might offend thy fatherli goodnes and be an occasion of turning thi blessing into curssīg but that so manias thou hast cōmitted to my charge may exchew all vice embrace all vertue lyue in thy feare call vpon thi holi name learn thi blessed commaundementes heare thy holy worde and auoyding idlenes diligentlye execute them selues euerye one in his office according to theyr vocacion and callyng vnto the glorye of thy moste honorable name Amen ¶ Of all Christians Albeit O heauenly Father all we that vnfaynedly professe thy holy religion and faithfully call on thy blessed name are thy sonnes and heyres of euerlasting glory yet as all the members of a body
few that doo enioy them For straight is the gate and narow is the way whiche leadeth vnto life and few there be that find it Notwithstanding O heauenly father thou hast a litle flocke to whom it is thy pleasure to geue y e glorious kingdom of heauē Ther is a certaine number of sheep that heare thy voice whom no man is able to pluck out of thy hand whiche shal neuer perish to whō also thou shalt geue eternall life Make me therfore O lorde of that number whom thou frō euerlasting hast predestinate to bee saued whose names also are written in the book of life Pluck me out of the cōpany of y e stinkking gotes whiche shal stād on thy left hand be damned place me among those thy sheep whiche shal stand on thy right hand and be saued Graunt me this o mer cifull Father for thy deere sonnes sake Iesu Christ our Lorde So shal I enioying this singular benefite at thy hand being placed in thy glorious kingdom sing per petuall praises to thy godly maiestie whiche liuest and reignest with thy deerely beloued sonne and the holy ghost one true and euerlasting God c. ¶ A thanks geuing vnto God for all his benefites THy benefites toward me O moste louing Father are so great infinite whether I haue respect vntomy body or vnto my soule that I finde not in my self how to recompence any part of thine vnspeakable goodnes toward me But y u whiche needest none of my goods knowing our beggery yea ournothing requirest of vs for a recompēce of thy kindnes only y e sacrifice of praise and thanks geuing o lorde and mercifull father what wurthi thanks am I pore wretched sīner able to geue the Notw tstāding trusting on thy merci fauorable kīd nes I offer vnto thee in the name of Christe the sacrifice of praise euer thanking the moste hartely for all thy benefites whiche thou hast be stowed vpon me thine vnprofitable seruaūt from the beginning of my life vnto this presēt houre moste hūbly beseeching the to continew thy louing kindnes to ward me and to geue me grace to walke wurthy of this thy fatherly goodnes that whē thou shalt call me out of this carefull life I may enioy y t thy moste singulare last benefite whiche is euerlasting glori through Iesus Christe our Lord to whom with thee and the ho li ghost be al honour praise for euer and euer Amen ¶ A praier to be said at the houre of death O Lorde Iesu whiche art the only helth of all mē liuing the euerlasting life of thē which die in thy faith I wretched sinner geue and submit my self wholy vnto thy most blessed wil. And I being sure that the thing cā not perish whiche is cōmitted vnto thy merci O lord geue me grace that willingly I may leaue this fraill wicked fleshe in hope of the resurrection whiche in better wise shal restore it to me agaī I beseeche thee moste merciful lorde Iesus christ that thou wilt by thy grace make strōg my soule agaīst all temptacions And that thou wilt couer and defend me with the buckler of thy mercy against all y e assaults of the deuill I see knowledge y e there is in my self no help of saluation But al my confidence hope trust is in thy moste mercifull goodnes I haue no merits nor good wurks whiche I may alledge before thee Of my sinns euill wurks alas I see a great hepe but thorow thy mercy I trust to be in the number of them to whom thou wilt not impute their sinnes but take accept me for rightuos and iust to be y e enheritour of euerlasting life Thou mercifull Lorde wast borne for my sake y u didst suffer bothe hunger thirst for my sake thou didst preache teache thou didst pray and fast for my sake thou didst al good wurks deeds for my sake Thou sufferedst moost greuous paines and torments for my sake And finally thou gauest thy moste precious body to die thy bloud to be shed on the cros for my sake Now moste mercifull sauiour let all these things profit me whiche thou freely hast geuen me that hast geuē thy self for me Let thy bloud clense and washe away the spots and foulnes of my sinnes Let thy righte ousnes hide couer my vnrighteousnes Let the merites of thy passion bloud be satisfaction for my sinnes Geue me Lorde thy grace that my faith and saluation in thy bloud wauer not in me but euer be firm constant that the hope of thy mercy and life euerlasting neuer decay in me that charitie wax not colde in me finally that the weaknes of my fleshe bee not ouercome with fear of death Graunt me mercifull sauiour that whē death hath shut vp the eies of my body yet that the eyes of my soule may stil beholde and look vpon thee that when death hath takē away the vse of my tung spech yet that my hart may cry say vnto thee In manus tuas domine commendo spiritum meū that is to say O Lorde into thy hāds I geue and commit my soule Domine Iesu accipe spiritum meum Lorde Iesu receiue my soule vnto thee Amen ¶ Certain Godly Meditations made in the forme of prayers by S. Augustine whiche if thou wilt rede them quietly with a feruent spirit they will stir thee muche to deuocion ¶ A prayer wherin through cōmemoration of Christes passion we desire pardon of oure sinnes and continuaunce in vertue and godlines BEholde O pitiful father thy most pitifull sōne which suffred for me being so wicked Be hold o most merciful king who suffreth and remember as thou art louing and kinde for whom he suffred Is not this O my Lorde that innocent whom allthough he were thy sonne thou didst deliuer to redeme raunsō a seruant Is not this the author and beginner of life whiche being led as a sheep to bee killed beeing made obediēt to thee euen vnto death was not afraid to take vpō him the moste cruell and sharp kinde of death Cal to remembraunce O thou distributor of all helth that this is he whom althoughe thou diddest beget him by thy power yet not withstanding thou wouldest haue to bee made partaker of mine infirmitie and weaknes Truly this same is thy Godhed whiche did take vpō him my nature whiche was hanged vppō the gibbet of tourment or cros whiche in the fleshe whiche he had taken vpon him did suffer sorowful punishment Turn the eyes of thy maiestie O Lord my God toward the wurk of thine vnspekeable pitie Look vpō thy deere sonne whose whole body is stretched forth Mark y e harmles and pure hands whiche doo drop and distill down innocent bloud And I beseeche thee bee pacified and pardon the wicked dedes whiche my hands haue cōmitted Consider his bare naked side being thrust thorow cruelly with a spear and renue and wash me with
of mine hart haue I acknowledged thal mightifulnes of thy maiesty maiesty of thine almightifulnes But now like as with hart I beleue whiche is counted righteousnes vnto me so with mouth doo I confes before thee whiche is to my saluation after what sort and maner thou didst vouchsafe in the end of the world to succour and aid mankinde Thou in deed only O God the father art not red at any time or in any place to be sēt But of thy sonne the Apostle writeth When that y e time was fulfilled God sent his sonne In that he saith he sent he doth sufficiently declare that he being sent came into this world when as he being borne a very perfect man of blessed Mary a pure Uirgin did apeer and shew him self in y e flesh But what is that whiche he that is the cheef of the Euangelists dooth say He was in the world and the world was made my him Thither truely was he sent by his humanitie where he allway is and alway hath bene by his diuinitie The whiche sending or embassage I beleeue withall my hart and confes with my mouth to be the consent and wurk of al the whole Trinitie Oh holy good father how didst thou loue vs How great fauour didst thou bear toward vs moste mercifull creator whiche haste not spared thine owne sonne but for vs wretched sinners hast deliuered him He was obedient vnto thee vntill death yea death vpon a cros taking y e obligation or hād writing of our sinnes whiche was his fleshe fastening it vnto the cros he crucified sin and kild death He a lone is amongst the dead free from death hauing power to put his soule for vs to take it again for vs. Therfore was he bothe a vanquisher and a sacrifice and therfore was he an ouercommer because he was a sacrifice for vs. He was bothe y e preest sacrifice vnto thee and therfore was he apreest because he was a sacrifice Not without a cause haue I great hope in him Forasmuche as thou wilt make whole all my diseases for his sake that sitteth on thy right hād and dothe continually make intercession for vs. For my diseases O Lorde are great and many oh they are many in number great For the Prince of this world as I very well knowe confes hath mani things in me But I beseche thee deliuer me through our redeemer whiche sitteth on thy righthand in whō y e said Prince of this world could finde none euill that was his of his owne committing By him doo thou iustify me whome his self did not sin nether was there any deceit or gile found in hys mouth By him whiche is oure head in whom there is not one spot of euill deliuer me whiche am one of his members though I be but a little membre and feble and weake Deliuer me I be sech thee from my sinnes offences faults ignoraunces Fulfill me with thy holy vertues make me to shine in good maners make me I besech the for thy holy names sake to cōtinue in holi wurks vntill thend accor ding to thy will and pleasure ¶ Of the trust whiche a soule ought to haue in our Lorde Iesu and in his Passion I Might dispaire verely because of my manifolde sinnes negli gences without nūber if it were not that thy wurd O God was made fleshe and dwelt amongst vs. But I can not now dispaire because that seeing when we were enemies we were reconciled by the death of thy sonne how muche more are we now reconciled saued by him For all the hope and the certitude sure nes of all my trust is in his precius blud whiche was shed for vs for our saluation In him doo I take hartening and trusting in him I haue a desire to come vnto the not hauing mine owne righteousnes but that whiche I haue through thy sōne our lorde Iesu Christe For the whiche O moste mercifull God and moste gentle louer of mankinde we geue thee thāks which through Iesus Christe thy sōne our lord when we were not didst mighte ly make vs and when we were lost through our sinnes moste merucilously didst deliuer recouer vs again To thy goodnes I say doo I geue thanks manifold praises doo I shew for the to the withall my hart minde whiche through the vnspeakable loue wherwith thou hast vouchesafed of thy meruelous goodnes to loue vs wretches vnwurthy to be loued didst sēd that same thine only begotten sōne from thy bosome vnto our cōmon weal to saue vs sinners whiche were at that time y e children of perdition and damnaciō I rendre vnto thee thāks for his holy incarnation and natiuitie and for his blessed mother vpon whom he did vouchesafe to take fleshe for vs and for our saluation to thintent that like as he is very God of God so he might be very man of man I geue thee thanks for his passion and cros for his death and resurrection for his ascention into heauen his seat of his maiestie on thy right hand For he the fortie day after his resurrection ascending aboue all the heauens his disciples seeing it and sitting on thy right hand did pour out his holy spirite abundantly according to his promis vppon them whom he had chosen to be his children I geue thee thāks for that moste sacred sheding foorth of his precious bloud wherwith we ar re deemed also for the moste holy and quickning sacrifice of his body and bloud whiche daily in thy churche we feed of drink of wherwith we are washed sanctified and are made partakers of the only high diuinitie I geue thee thanks for thy merueilous vnspekeable charitie loue wherwith thou didst loue vs vnwurthi persones and didst saue vs by thine only and be loued sōne for so thou didst loue y e world that thou gauest thine only begotten sonne to thintent that none which beleued in him should perish but haue euerlasting life This thing truly is euerlasting life to knowe thee also Iesus Christe whom thou sent to be very God by an vpright faith and wurkes wurthy for faith ¶ Of thexceding loue of the euer lasting father toward mankind OH vnmesurable pitie and fatherly loue oh inestimable charitie that thou shouldest deliuer thy sonne to suffre death to thintent thou mightest redeem and raunsom a seruaunt God was made mā to the intent that man being lost might-be plucked out of the powre of deuels How gētle and kinde a louer of man was thy sōne our God who thought it not enough to humble him self to be made man of the very virgin Mary but also took vpon him the paines of the cros in sheding his bloud for vs and for our saluation He came a pitifull God he came for his pitie goodnesses sake he came to serche and to saue that which was lost He sought the straied sheep he sought and found and he being a good Lorde and truly a
thorow thy sōne to deserue and with due honor allway to wurship this great mistery of thy pitie whiche is manifest in our fleshe Iustified in the spirit did appeere vnto Angels was preched vnto nations was bele ued to be in the world was takē vp into heauen Amen ¶ Of the thankes whiche man ought to geue vnto God for the benefite of his redemption LOok how muche O Lorde our God we are in det vnto thee euē for so great a price wer we redeemed with suche a great gift were we saued and with so great abenefit helped How muche ought we wretches to loue dread bles praise honoure and glorify thee whiche hast so loued vs after suche facion saued vs after suche a sorte sanctified vs so set vs on high To the truly doo we owe are bound in as muche as we are able euē our life and all our study or endeuour But who hath ani thing that is not thine But doo thou O Lorde our God from whom all goodnes procedeth euen for thy holy names sake geue vs of thy goodnes that we may serue thee of thine owne goods and gifts that we may please thee in truthe repay vnto the daily due praises for so great benefites of thy mercy For by none other meanes can we serue or please thee but by thine owne gifts y tthou hast lent vs while we be in this world For euery good gift and euery perfect gift is from aboue commeth down from the father of light with whō there is none alteration or variablenes neither yet is he changed vn to darknes O Lorde our God a pitifull God a good God and almighty God an vnspekeable God and incomprehensible of suche a nature that can not be cō teined as in a place o god which art the beginner of all things the father of our Lorde Iesus Christe whiche diddest send the same thy beloued sōne our lorde foorth of thy bosome to oure cōmon profite to take vpon him our life to thintent he might geue vs his life that he might be perfect and very God of thee his father and very and perfect man of his mother a whole and a perfect God and a whole and perfect man and yet but one on ly Christe bothe euerlasting enduring but for a space bothe immortall and mortall bothe a creator and a creature strong weke an ouercommer and one ouercomed a nurs and one that was nurced him self a shepherd and a sheep dead for a time and liuing with the euerlasting pro mising to them that loued him the fredom of life Who said to his disciples what thing so euer ye ask the father in my name he will geue it vnto you For that hie Priestes sake whiche was al so a bishop in deed a god shepherd that offred him self in a sacrifice to thee putting his life in ieoperdi for his flock for his sake I say I beseche thee whiche sitteth on thy right hand maketh intercession for vs being our redemer our aduocate that thou woldest graunt vnto me that to gether with thy sonne the holy ghost I may in al things bles and glorify thee with muche cōtriciō of hart and a fountain of teares with muche reuerence fear For the gift of them that be all of one substaunce is all one But because abody that is corrupted doth aggrauate burden the soule stir vp and awake I be seche thee my sluggishnes with thy pricks and prouokings and make me boldly to perseuer and continue in thy commaundements and lawes day and night Graunt me that my hart may waxe warme within me and that in my meditation and praier I may be feruent And for as muche as thy only sonne said No man can come to me except my Father that sent me shall draw him again no man cometh to the father but by me I re quire and humbly beseche thee draw me alwaies vnto him that he at the lēgth may bring me to thee thether I mean wheras he is sitting on thyrighthand wher as is euerlastīg life and continu al blessednes whereas is perfect loue without all kinde of fear where as is one day euerlasting and one spirit of all men where as is moste sure securitie safty secure quietnes and quiet plesantnes pleasaunt felicitie and happines happy eternitie continuall and eternall seeing and praising of thee without ende where as thou with him and he with thee in the communiō and vnitie of the holy ghost euerlastingly and continually liuest reignest thorow out all worldes of worldes Amen ¶ A deuout prayer vnto Christe O Christe and God whiche art my hope and the true gentle louer of mankinde the light the way the life the health the honor and wurship of them that be thine I beseche thee call to thy remembraunce all things that thou willingly didst suffre for thē bothe bōds cros woūds death and sepulchre whiche after thre dayes death being ouer comed didst rise wast seen of thi Disciples reforming their harts and establishing them that were almoste enclining from thee the forty day after didst ascend vp to heauen which liuest euerlasting ly now and raignest thorow out worldes thou art my God bothe liuing and true my father my God bothe holy and pitifull my mighty king my good shepherd mine only Master my best helper one whō I am moste bound to loue my liuing bread mine euerlasting preest my guide vnto my conntrey my true light my holy sweetnes my right streight way Mine excellent wisdō my pure and vnfained simplicitie my peasible cōcorde my safe garrison my good portiō mine euerlasting helth my great mercy my strōgest patiēce mine vnspotted sacrifice my holy redēption my sure stedfast hope my perfit charitie my very and true resurrection mine euerlasting life my ioy and moste blessed vision continuall without ende I humbly beseche thee I desire and pray thee that I may walk by thee that I may come to the that I may rest in thee whiche art the way the truthe the life without the whiche no man can come vnto the father Thee doo I desire couet O good Lorde whiche art the brightnes of thy fathers glori which sittest aboue the Angell called Cherubin and doost beholde the lowe and deep places whiche art the true light the light y e lightneth all things the light that neuer faileth nor goeth out whiche the Angels haue desire to beholde Loe my hart is before thee in thy sight put away the darknes from it that it may fully be replenished with the clearnes of thy loue Geue vnto me Lorde thy self beholde I doo loue thee if that be but a thing of small valure make me to loue the more strōgly and earnestly I can not mesure to know how muche I lack of thy loue nether cā I tell how muche shoulde be sufficient for me that my life may fulfill his course in thy loue and not turn back vntil
deliuer me to thy sonne Can a mother forget the child she bare of her wōb and sureli although she sōtimes be forgetful yet thou O father hast promised not to forget vs. Behold I cry and thou dost not heare me ▪ I am vexed with sorow and thou confortest me not What shall I say or what shall I doo most wretched caitife that I am I beīg desolate of so great comforte am cast out from the sight of thine eyes Wo be vnto me from how great goodnes into how great a mischefe am I fallen whether purposed I to go and whether am I comen Where am I and where am I not whom did I study to attein ▪ vnto and what euils haue I obteyned I sought for good thīgs and beholde I haue found trouble care Behold now I am in the state of deathe and Iesus is not with me And surely it were better for me to haue nothing at all yea no beyng at all thē to be without Iesu. It is better not to liue then to liue without life And thou O Lorde Iesu where be thine olde mercies wilt thou be angry towardes me for euer Be pacified I beseche thee and haue mercy vpon me and turne not thy face away frō me which to thintēt thou mightest redeme me didst not turne a way thy face from thē that rebuked thee and spitted vpon thee I confes and acknowledge that I haue sinned and my conscience deserueth damnacion and the penaunce that I am able to doo is not sufficient to make amēds for mine iniquities But sure certain I am that thy mercy exceadeth all offences that a man can doo Oh doo not I beseche thee most pitifull Lorde write my heynous sinnes against me y t thou shuldest entre into iudgement with thy seruaunt But ac cording to the multitude of thy mercies cros blot out mine in iquities Wo be vnto me wretch that I am when the day of iudg ment commeth and the bookes of consciences shalbe layd wide open when it shalbe said of me Lo looke vpon this felow his wurkes What shall I doo then O Lorde my God when the hea uens shall reuele and shew forth mine iniquitie the earth shall arise vp and testifie mine iniquitie against me Beholde I shalbe able to geue neuer one wurd to answer but to stande in thy presence trimbling quaking vtterly confounded and holding downe my head for shame Alas wretch that I am what shall I say I will cry vnto thee o lorde my God Why am I consumed fretted with holdīg my peace But if I should speak my greef would not cease And if I hold my peace I shalbe most bitterly vexed within me Mourne o my soule lament as a widow for her first husbande that she had in her yong age Houle wretche cry out with weping because thy spouse Christ hathe forsaken thee O God almightie let not thine angre fall vpō me because that if thou lay somuche to my charge as is dew for my sinnes it is so muche that I can not receiue it Sureli my power is not able for to suffre or beare it Haue merci vpon me least I dispeire But in despeiring I will take hart to me and be sōwhat cōforted For all though I haue committed so muche that thou mayst condemne me wurthely yet thou hast not lost that wherwith thou wast wont to saue sin ners nether dost thou reioise at the destructiō los of them that dye yea to thintente that dead men might liue thou thy felf didst die and thy deathe did kill the deathe of sinnes And if they were reuiued again and did liue by thy deathe I besech thee let not me die now y tthou liuest Send downe thy hand power from hie and deliuer me out of the hands of mine enemies that they reioyse not ouer me and say let vs deuoure him Who euer O good Ie su needed to mistrust of thimerci which whē we were thine enemies didstredeme vs with thy blud and reconciled vs vnto God Beholde I being hid vnder the shadow of thy mer cy doo come vnto the throne of thy glory requiring I doo rū crying and knocking vntil thou take pitie vppon me For if thou didst call vs to pardon forgeuenes before we laboured for pardon how soone shall we obtein forgeuenes when we aske it Doo not remembre omost boūtefull Iesu thy iustice toward a sinner but think vpon thy liberalitie gentlenes towarde thy creature Doo not remēbre thine angre toward the giltie but remembre thy pity and mercy toward a wretche Forget me in y t I proudly did prouoke moue thee to wrath and look vppon a wretche that calleth vpon thee For what is Iesus but a sauior Therfore good Iesu for thine owne sake arise and helpe me and say vnto my soule I am thy health and thy safegarde I presume muche and am very bolde of thy goodnes O Lord because thou doost teache vs to aske to seek and to knocke wherfore I being admonished by thy wurd doo aske seek and knock And thou O Lorde that commaundest vs to aske make me able to receiue Thou that geuest councell to seeke graunte that I may finde Thou that teachest vs to knock opē to me when I knock and confirme me whiche am vnstable and wauering restore me that am lost raise me y t am dead and vouchsafe to direct gouern in thy fauoure all my sences my thoughts and dooings that frō hensfoorth I may serue thee I may liue toward thee and that I may commit my self vnto thee I knowe O my Lord that thorow this that thou hast made me I owe and am in det vnto thee euen mine owne selfe because thou hast redemed me and wast made man for my sake for this I say I owe vnto thee more thē my selfe Lo I haue no more nether can I geue that whiche I haue vnto thee without thee But doo thou take me and draw me vnto thee y t I may be thine in folowing louing thee like as I am thine in condicion creation whiche liuest and reignest world without ende Amen FINIS O God the Father of heauen haue mercy vpon vs miserable sinners O God the father of heauen c O God the sonne redemer of the world haue mercy vpon vs myserable sinners O God the sonne redemer of c. O God y e holy Ghost proceding frō the Father the sōne haue mercy vpō vs miserable sinners O God the holi Ghost proceding c O holy blessed glorious Trinitie thre persōs one god haue merci vpō vs miserable sinners O holy blessed and glorious c. Remember not Lorde our offēces nor the offēces of oure forefathers nether take thou vengeaunce of oure sinnes Spare vs good lord spare thy people whō thou hast redemed with thy most precious bloud and be not angry with vs for euer Spare vs good Lorde From all euill mischief from sinne from the crafts
oure trust in thee ¶ Let vs pray WE humbly beseeche chee O father mercifulli to loke vpō our infirmities and for the glory of thy names sake turn from vs all those euils y t we most righteously haue deserued And graunt that in all our troubles we may put our whole trust and confidence in thy mercy euermore serue thee in holines and purenes of liuing to thy honor glory through our oneli mediatour and aduocate Iesus Christe our Lorde Amen ¶ A prayer for the Queens Maiestie ▪ O Lorde our heauenly Father high mighty king of kings Lorde of Lordes the only ruler of Princes whiche doost from thy throne beholde all the dwellers vpon the earth moste hartely we beseeche thee with thy fauour to beholde our moste gratious souerain Lady Queen Elizabeth and so replenish her with the grace of thy holy spirit that she may alway incline to thy will and walke in thy way Indue her plentifully with heauenli gifts Graunt her in helth and welth long to liue strength her that she may vanquish and ouercome all her enemies And finalli after this life she may attain euerlasting ioi and felicitte Thorow Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen ¶ For rain if the time require O God heauenly father whiche by thy sonne Iesus Christe hast promised to all thē that seek thy kingdom and the righteousnes therof all things necessary to theyr bodely sustenaunce sed vs we beseeche thee in this oure necessitie suche moderat rain shoures that we may receiue the frutes of the earth to our cōfort and to thy honor through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen ¶ For faire wether O Lord God which for y e sinne of mā diddest once drowne all the world except eight persons and afterward of thy great mercy diddest promise neuer to destroy it so again we humbly besech thee that although we for our iniquities haue wurthely de serued this Plague of raine and waters yet vpon our true repētaunce thou wilt sende vs suche weather wherby we may receiue the fruites of the earth in due season and learne bothe by thy punishment to amend oure lyues and for thy clemency to geue the praise glory through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen ¶ A praier of Chrisostome ALl mighty God whiche hast geuen vs grace at this time with one accorde to make our cō mon supplicacions vnto thee doost promise that when ii or iii. be gathered in thy name thou wilt graunt their requests fulfil now O Lorde the desires and peticions of thy seruauntes as may be moste expedient for thē graūting vs in this world know ledge of thy truthe and in the world to come life euerlasting Amen ¶ In the time of dearth famin O God heauenly father whose gift it is y t the rain doth fal the earth is frutefull beastes increace and fishes doo multiply Beholde we beseche thee the afflictions of thy people graunt that the scarcitie dearth which we doo now most iustli suffer for oure iniquitie may through thy goodnes be mercifully tourned into cheapnes and plenti for the loue of Iesu Christ our Lord to whom with thee and the holy ghost c. ¶ Or thus O God mercifull father whiche in the time of Heliseus the Prophet didst sodēly turn in Samaria great scarcitie and dearth into plenty and cheapnes and extreme famine into aboundāce of victuall haue pitie vpon vs y tnow be punished for oure sins with like aduersitie encrease the frutes of the earth by thy heauēly Benedictiō And graunt that we receiuing thy bountifull liberalitie may vse the same to thy glory our confort and relief of our nedi neighbours through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen ¶ In the time of warre O Almighty God King of all kings and gouernour of all thinges whose power no creature is able to resist to whom it belōgeth iustli to punish sinners to be mercifull vnto them that truly repēt saue deliuer vs we humbly beseeche thee from the hāds of our enemies abate their Pride asswage theyr malice confound their deuises that we being armed with thy defence may be preserued euermore frō all perils to glorify thee whiche art the only geuer of all victory through the merites of thy only sōne Iesus Christe oure Lorde Amen ¶ In the time of any common plage or sicknes O Almighty God which in thy wrath in the time of king Da uid didst slea with the plage of pestilence thre score ten thousand yet remembring thy mercy diddest saue the rest haue pity vppon vs miserable sinners that now are visited with greate sicknes mortalitie that like as thou diddest then commaunde thine ▪ angell to cease from punishing So it may now please the to withdraw frō vs this plague and greuous sicknes throughe Iesu Christ oure Lorde Amen The ende of the letany A Table of the prayers cōtained in this boke A Prayer for the morning Folio 3 A prayer for the Euening Folio 4 A prayer for the forgeuenes of Folio 5 A prayer vnto God y e Father Folio 6 A prayer vnto God the sonne Folio 7 A prayer vnto God the holy Folio 8 A prayer tobe said of Magist ▪ Folio 10 A prayer of y e ministers of gods wurd Folio 11 Of Subiects or Eomons Folio 12 Of Fathers and Mothers Folio 13 Of the Children Folio 14 Of Maisters Folio 15 Of Seruaunts Folio 16 Of maids Folio 17 Of Single men Folio 19 Of Husbands ▪ Folio 20 Of Wyues Folio 21 Of housholders Folio 22 Of all Christians Folio 23 For the grace and fauour of God Folio 24 For the gift of the holi Ghost Folio 25 For the true knowledge of our selues Folio 26 For a pure and a clene hart Folio 27 For a quyet conscience Folio 28 For faith Folio 29 For Charitie Folio 30 For pacience Folio 31 For humilitie Folio 32 For Mercifulnes Folio 33 For true Godlines Folio 34 For the true vnderstanding of Gods wurd Folio 35 For a life agreable to our know ledge Folio 36 For the helth of the body Folio 37 For a good name Folio 38 For a compitent liuing Folio 39 For a pacient thankfull hart in sicknes Folio 40 For strength against the Deuel the world and the Flesh. Folio 41 For the help of Gods holy Angels Folio 42 A prayer to our lord Iesu Christ called Conditor celi terrae Folio 43 For the glory of heauen Folio 47 A thankes geuing vnto God for all his benefites Folio 48 A prayer to be said at the houre of death Folio 50 A prayer wherin throughe commemoratiō of Christes passion we desire pardō of oure sinnes and continuance in vertue and godlines Folio 53 A Prayer wherin Man cōfesseth him self to be the cause of Christes passion Folio 56 Heer doth mā declare vnto God the Father that the passion of his sonne was for his reconciliaciō attōment with God Folio 61 A deuout Prayer to the holy Ghost Folio 67 A Prayer to y e holy Trinitie Folio 69 An acknowledging of Allmighty God and his maiestie eodē After what sort God the Father vouched safe to help mākinde of thincarnatiō of the wurd whiche is Christe of the geuing of thankes Folio 72 Of the trust which a soule ought to haue in oure Lord Iesu and in his passion Folio 75 Of thexceding loue of theuerlasting Father toward mankinde Folio 77 Of the double nature of Christe whiche hath mercy vpon vs and maketh intercession for vs. Folio 81 Of the thankes whiche man ought to geue vnto God for the benefite of his redempcion Folio 84 A deuout prayer vnto Christ. Folio 88 A prayer declaring with howe great miseries this life is replenished Folio 92 Of the blessednes of that life whiche God hath prepared for them that loue him Folio 94 A complaint that we be not moued nor pricked in our contemplation and prayer like as the Angells be whiche tremble at the sight of God Folio 96 A very deuout prayer for the geuing of thankes Folio 99 A prayer wherin mannes minde is very muche and plentuously stirred and moued If it be said in quietnes Folio 107 A prayer in time of tribulation Folio 118 A very deuout prayer vnto the Sonne Folio 120 The Letany Folio 128 The ende of the. Table ¶ Imprinted at London ouer Aldersgate benethe S. Martins by Iohn Day 1561. ¶ Cum gratia priuilegio Regiae Maiestatis