vphold their idolatrous kingdome the more let it fall downe euen as Dagon before the presence of thine Ark. Powre downe the vials of the fulnesse of thy wrath vpon the kingdome of the Beast and let their riches wealth credit and authority drie vp euery day more and more as the riuer Euphrates Let it pity thee O Father to see thine owne spouse sit as a deformed and forlorne woman heere below weeping and mourning with haire about her necke hauing lost all her beauty and comlinesse cheere her vp deere Father glad her with the ioy of thy countenance and so decke her and trimme her vp that thou maiest delight in her as a Bridegrome in his Bride Specially we in treat thee to haue mercy vpon th◠Church in this land intend good vnto vs and not euill giue vs not ouer into the hands of the cruell Spaniard as our sinnes haue deserued Scatter we pray thee O Lord the deuices breake the plots of all such as haue plotted the ouerthrow and vtter subuersion of this Church and common wealth Blesse this Church more more with the continuance of true Religion amongst vs. For thy great names sake and infinite mercies sake deale gratiously and fauourably with vs and our posterity Turne from vs that vengeance which is due to vs for our sinnes For thou seest how iniquity preuaileth and the wicked goe away with the goale Atheisme ouerspreadeth euery where and Poperie seemeth to get a head againe Now therefore deere Father wee most humbly beseech thee to take order speedily for the remedying and repressing of these manifold disorders and grieuous enormities that are amongst vs. Be intreated of thy poore children to be good to this English nation Heare the cries of thine elect heare the mourning of them that mourne in Sion Let the cries of thy children crie downe all the cries of the sinnes of the land and be reconciled vnto vs in the multitude of thy compassions that so thou maiest still continue a most mercifull protector of this thine English vineyard Wee pray thee good Father shew special mercy to our most Noble and gratious K. Iames thine anointed seruant blesse him and keep him in all his waies Blesse his gouernment vnto vs. Let thine Angels encamp about him and let thy holy hand be alwaies ouer him keep him from treasons and deliuer him frō the treacheries of his enemies giue him to see what belongeth vnto his peace and giue him a heart earnestly bent to set vpon the practise of the same giue him al graces necessary for his peace and necessary for his saluation continue his gouernement peaceable and prosperous amongst vs and as thou hast made him the breath of our nostrils and a gratious instrument for the sauing of many thousand soules so let his owne soule be saued in the day of thy Sonne Christ Blesse his Maiesties most honorable priuy Counsellors and giue such good successe vnto all their Counsels and policies in matters of state that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godlinesse and honesty Blesse all the Nobility worke in them a care to glorifie thy name in their places make them faithfull to thee and faithful to the Land Direct with thy good spirit all such as beare the sword of Iustice that they may draw it out to punish the wicked and to defend the godly that they may with al good care and conscience discharge the duties of their places Increase the number of faithfull zealous Ministers in this Church Send thy Gospell to those places where it is not blesse it where it is Remember them in thy mercy O Lord that are vnder any crosse or affliction whatsoeuer bee comfortable vnto them heale vp their wounds binde vp their sores put all their teares into thy bottle and make their bed in all their sorrowes and put such a good end to al their troubles that they may redound to thy glory and the furtherance of their owne saluation In the meane time giue them patience and constancy to beare whatsoeuer it shal please thy merciful hand to lay vpon them Last of all in a word wee pray thee blesse Magistracie Ministery Cōmonalty Blesse all thy people do good to all that are true and vpright in their hearts And so deere father we do commit cōmend our selues our soules bodies into thy hands for this day and the rest of our life praying thee to take care and charge of vs keep vs from all euill watch ouer vs for our good let thine Angels encamp about vs let thy holy hand be ouer vs and keep vs in all our waies that we may liue to thy praise and glory here in earth keeping faith and a good conscience in all our actiōs that after this life we may be crowned of thee for euer in thy kingdome Grant these things good father to vs here present and to all thine absent praying thee in speciall fauour to remember our friends and kinsfolkes in the flesh all our good neighbours and wel-willers and all those for whō we are bound to pray by nature by deserts or any duty whatsoeuer for Iesus Christs sake our onely Mediator to whom with thee and the holy Ghost be giuen all praise and glory both now and for euermore Amen An Euening prayer to be vsed in priuate families O Eternall GOD and most louing deare Father we thy vnworthy children do heere fall downe at the foot of thy great maiesty acknowledging from our hearts that we are altogether vnworthy to come neere thee or to look towards thee because thou art a God of infinit glory and we are most vile and abominable sinners such as were conceiued and borne in sinne and corruption such as haue inherited our fathers corruptions and also haue actually transgressed all thy holy statutes and lawes both in thought words deeds before we knew thee since secretly and openly with our selues and with others our particular sinnes are moe than can be numbred for who knoweth how often hee offendeth But this we must needes confesse against our selues that our hearts are full of pride couetousnesse and the loue of this world full of wrath anger and impatiencie full of lying dissembling and deceiuing full of vanity hardnesse and prophanenesse full of infidelity distrust and selfe-loue full of lust vncleanenesse and all abhominable desires yea our hearts are the very sinkes of sin dunghils of all filthines And besides all this we do omit the good things we should doe for there are in vs great wants of faith of loue of zeale of patience of contentment of euery good grace so as thou hast iust cause to proceed to sentence of iudgement against vs as most damnable transgressors of all thy holy commandements yea such as are sunke in our rebellions and haue many times often committed high treason against thy maiesty therefore thou maiest iustly cast vs all downe into hell fire there to be tormented with Satan and
thy righteous professions sake know that the Lord hath set such a master ouer thee for thine euerlasting good to try thy constancy or to make thee more feruent in thy prayers or to diminish thy loue of the world or for an example of patience or an instance of comfort to others in like case As many as I loue I rebuke and chasten saith our Sauiour Christ Apoc. 3.19 Whosoeuer be the instrument the chastening is Christs see that thou do thy duty vnto thy master to the vttermost of thy power though he be neuer so moody euen as if he were another Moses the mildest man vpō the earth that the name of God his doctrine be not euill spoken of Assure thy selfe he shal be no harder to thee then the Lord shall see good and expedient for thee for we see some men want neither power nor will who somtimes in their suddē anger would kil their seruāts but thē the Lord manifests his prouidence towards his children in restraining them from those outrages which in that madding passion they are incited to Pray vnto the Lord to turne thy masters heart that hee may haue a feeling of his sinnes that so he may come to repentance and in the meane time ouercome thou his euill with goodnes and the Lord will either vnexpectedly alter his wil and affections or allow thee such other secret ioyes as shall ouerballance all thy griefes and discomforts If then thou wilt goe to heauen thou seest the iorney thither lies not in plaine waies thou must goe thorow good report and bad derisions and skornes and molestations but the end of the iorney is a sufficient recompence for all cumbers and inconueniences of the way the paines are light and momentany the waight of glory to which they bring vs is vnspeakeable and euerlasting So long as thou wast of the world the world loued her owne now that thou hast forsaken and bid defiance to her she takes thee for an enemy loades thee with hatred disdaine infamy slander and all maner of contempt No matter all this worse shall worke to the best to them that loue God when the softnes and delicacy and ease of worldlings shall be their owne destruction All the holy men of old time all the cheefe lights of the Church all those that now walke in long white robes with palmes of victory in their hands yea he that Saint Iohn saw in the middest of the seuen golden candlestickes whose face did shine as the Sunne in his strength euen he also hath begunne to vs in this bitter cup and shall we shrinke to pledge them when there are but a few smal drops left for vs to sip off If carnall men suffer so much to satisfie their lusts to get riches or dignities to feed themselues with a little smoake of vaine glory or to taste some sleight pleasure which bringes repentance at her heeles If they feare not the waues of the sea nor the flames of fire nor the crossings of men to attaine these shall we be so without all heart or so nice that wee will not abide a scoffe or a reprochfull word to attaine those solid substantiall and eternall pleasures and good things in comparisō of which all the honours riches commodities allurements sweetnes of the world are to bee esteemed not onely toyes and trifles but very dregs and drosse refuse not worth the taking vp No no when we haue once resolutely vowed our selues to Gods seruice GOD putteth another spirit into vs and a generous heart that though we be sometimes moued with these oppositions yet wee are neuer so farre oppressed by them as to forsake our righteousnesse or cast our lot in amongst sinners but in the middest of them our eie is so fixt vpon the end of our race and the heauenly garland reserued for such as perseuere and hold on that shrewd words serue as a good gale of wind and shrewd deedes as a violent streame to carry vs the more swift towards the port where wee would be Thus hauing finished this small Treatise I would beseech you as the Apostle saith to suffer these few lines of exhortations Ephes 6. and that you faint not in your afflictions but bee strong in the Lord putting on the whole armour of GOD that yee may be able to stand against all the assaults of the Diuell hauing your loynes girt about with veritie and hauing on the breast plate of righteousnesse and your feet shod with the preparation of the Gospell of peace and aboue all take the shield of faith wherewith yee may quench all the firy darts of the wicked and take the helmet of saluation and the sword of the spirit which is the word of GOD that being thus armed with these spirituall weapons ye may bee able to wrestle against principalities and powers and against our spirituall enemies the gouernors of the darknes of this world Now the Lord from heauen raine downe his grace into our hearts and strengthen vs with might in the inner man that wee may stand fast and encourage one another against all the bents of worldly aduersitie that being rooted and grounded in loue we may be able to comprehend with all Saints what is the bredth and length depth and height and know the loue of Christ which passeth all knowledge that wee may bee filled with all fulnes of God Vnto him therfore that is able to do exceeding abundantlie aboue all that we can aske or thinke be all praise glory maiesty dominion and power thorowout all gerations both now and for euermore Amen A Morning Praier to be vsed in priuate families O LORD our God and heauenly Father we thy vnworthy children do heere come into thy most holy heauenly presence to giue thee praise and glory for all thy great mercies and manifold blessings towards vs especially for that thou hast preserued vs this night past from all the dangers and feares therof hast giuen vs quiet rest to our bodies brought vs now safely to the beginning of this day and doest now a fresh renue all thy mercies vpon vs as the Eagle renueth her bill giuing vs all things abundantly to enioy as food raiment health peace liberty freedome from many miseries diseases casualties calamities which we are subiect vnto in this life euery minute of an houre and not onely so but also for vouchsafing vnto vs many good things not onely for necessity but euen for delight also But aboue all deare Father we praise thy name for the blessings of a better life specially for thy most holy word and sacraments and all the good we enioy thereby for the continuance of the Gospell amongst vs for the death of thy Sonne all that happinesse which we haue thereby also because thou hast chosen vs to life before we were and that of thy meere godnes and vndeserued sauour towards vs and hast called vs in thine appointed time iustified vs by thy grace sanctified vs by thy
his Angels for euer And wee haue nothing to except against thy maiesty for so doing sith therin thou shouldest deale with vs but according to equity and our iust deserts Wherefore deere father we doe appeale from thy iustice to thy mercy most humbly intreating thee to haue mercy vpon vs and freely to forgiue vs all our sinnes past whatsoeuer both new and old secret and open knowen and vnknowen and that for Iesus Christs sake our onely Mediator And wee pray thee touch our hearts with true griefe and vnfained repentance for them that they may be a matter of continuall sorrow and heart-smart vnto vs so as nothing may greiue vs more then this that we haue offended thee being our speciall friend and father Giue vs therefore deere Father euery day more and more sight and feeling of our sinnes with true humiliation vnder the same Giue vs also that true and liuely faith wherby we may lay sure hold onthy Son Christ and all his merits aplying the same to our owne soules so as we may stand fully perswaded that whatsoeuer hee hath done vpon the crosse he hath done for vs particularly as well as for others Giue vs faith good Father cōstantly to beleeue al the sweet promises of the gospel touching remission of sinne and eternall life made in thy Sonne Christ O Lord increase our faith that we may altogether rest vpon thy promises which are all yea and Amen Yea that we may settle our selues and all that we haue wholly vpon them both our soules bodies goods name wiues children our whole estate knowing that all things depend vpon thy promises power and prouidence that thy word doth support beare vp the whole order of nature More ouer we intreat thee O Lord to strengthen vs from aboue to walke in euery good way and to bring forth the fruits of true faith in all our particular actions studying to please thee in all things and to be fruitfull in good workes that we may shew forth vnto all men by our good conuersation whose children wee are and that we may adorne and beautifie our most holy profession by walking in a Christian course and in all the sound fruits and practise of godlines and true religion To this end wee pray thee sanctifie our hearts by thy spirit yet more and more sanctifie our soules and bodies and all our corrupt naturall faculties as reason vnderstanding will and affections so as they may be fitted for thy worship and seruice taking a delight and pleasure therein Stirre vs vp to vse praier watchfulnesse reading and meditation in thy law and all other good meanes whereby we may profit in grace and goodnesse from day to day Blesse vs in the vse of the meanes that we may daily die to sin and liue to righteousnesse draw vs yet neerer vnto thee help vs against our monifold wants Amend our great imperfections renue vs inwardly more and more repaire the ruines of our hearts aide vs against the remnants of sin Enlarge our hearts to runne the way of thy Commandements direct all our steps in thy word let none iniquity haue dominion ouer vs. Assist vs against our special infirmities and master sinnes that wee may get the victory ouer them all to thy glory and the great peace and comfort of our owne consciences Strengthen vs good father by thy grace and holy spirit against the cōmon corruptions of the world as pride whoredome couetousnesse contempt of thy Gospell swearing lying dissembling and deceiuing O deere Father let vs not be ouer come of these filthy vices nor any other sinfull pleasures and fond delights wherwith thousands are caried headlong to destruction Arme our soules against all the temptations of this world the flesh and the Diuell that we may ouercome them all through thy help and keep on the right way to life that we may liue in thy feare and die in thy fauour that our last daies may be our best daies and that we may end in great peace of conscience Furthermore deere Father we intreat thee not onely for ourselues but for all our good brethren thy deere children scattered ouer the face of the whole earth most humbly beseeching thee to blesse them all to cheere them vp and glad them with the ioy of thy countenance both now and alwaies Guide them all in thy feare and keep them from euill that they may praise thy name In these dangerous daies and declining times we pray thee O Lord raise vp nursing fathers and nursing mothers vnto thy Church Raise vp also faithful Pastors that thy cause may be caried forward truth may preuaile Religion may prosper thy name onely may be set vp in the earth thy Sonnes kingdome aduanced and thy will accomplished Set thy selfe against all aduersary power especially that of Rome Antichrist Idolatry and Atheisme curse and crosse all their counsels frustrate their deuises scatter their forces ouerthrow their armies When they are most wise let them be most foolish when they are most strong let them be most weake Let thē know that there is no wisdom nor coūsel power nor policy against thee the Lord of Hosts Let thē know that Israel hath a God that thou which art called Iehouah art the onely ruler ouer all the world Arise therefore O most mightie God and maintaine thine owne cause against all thine enemies smite thorow all their loines and bow downe their backes yea let them all be confounded and turned backward that beare ill will vnto Sion Let the patient abiding of the righteous be ioy and let the wicked be disappointed of their hope But of all fauour we intreate thee O Lord to shew special mercy to thy Church in this Land wherein we liue Continue thy Gospell amongst vs yet with greater successe purge thy house daily more more take away all things that offend Let this Nation still bee a place where thy name may bee called vpon and an harbour for thy Saints Shew mercy to our posterity deare Father and haue care of them that thy Gospell may bee left vnto them as a most holy inheritance Defend vs against forrē inuasiō keep out Idolatry and Popery from amongst vs. Turne frō vs those plagues which our sins cry for For the sins of this Land are exceeding great horrible and outragious giue thee iust cause to make vs spectacles of thy vengeance to all Natiōs that by how much the more thou hast lifted vs vp in great mercy and long peace by so much the more thou shouldest presse vs downe in great wrath long war Therfore deere Father we most humbly intreat thee for thy great names sake and for thy infinit mercies sake that thou wouldest bee reconciled to this land and discharge it of all the horrible sins thereof Drowne them O Lord in thy infinit mercy through Christ as it were in a bottomelesse gulfe that they may neuer rise vp in iudgement against vs. For although our sinnes bee exceeding many and feareful yet thy mercy is far greater For thou art infinite in mercy but we cannot be infinite in sinning Giue vs not ouer into the hands of the Idolaters lest they should blaspheme thy name and say Where is their God in whom they trusted But rather deere father take vs into thine owne hands and correct vs according to thy wisedome for with thee is mercy deep compassion Moreouer wee most heartily beseech thy good Maiesty to blesse our most gratious King Iames and to shew much mercy to him in all things Guide him in thy feare and keep him in all his waies working in his soule vnfeined sorrow for sinne true faith in the promises a great care to please thee in all things and to discharge the duty of his high place in all zeale of thy glory and faithfulnesse towards thy Maiesty that as thou hast crowned him heere in earth so hee spending his daies heere below in thy feare may after this life be crowned of thee for euer in the Heauens We beseech thee also to blesse his Maiesties most honorable priuie Counsellors Counsell them from aboue let them take aduice of thee in all things that they may both consult and resolue of such courses as may be most for thy glory the good of the Church the peace of this our Commonwealth Blesse the Nobility and all the Magistrates in the Land giuing them all grace to execute iudgement and iustice and to maintaine truth and equity Blesse all the faithfull Ministers of the Gospell increase the number of them inincrease thy gifts in them and so blesse all their labours in their seuerall places and congregations that they all may bee instruments of thy hand to inlarge thy Sonnes kingdome and to winne many vnto thee Comfort the comfortlesse with all needfull comforts Forget none of thine that are in trouble but as their afflictions are so let the ioyes and comforts of thy spirit bee vnto them and so sanctifie vnto all thine their afflictions and troubles that they may tend to thy glory and their owne good Giue vs thankefull hearts for all thy mercies both spirituall and corporall for thou art very mercifull vnto vs in the things of this life and infinitely more mercifull in the things of a better life Let vs deeply ponder and waigh all thy particular fauoures towards vs that by the due consideration thereof our hearts may bee gained yet neerer vnto thee and that therefore wee may both loue and obey thee because thou art so kind and louing vnto vs that euen thy loue towards vs may draw our loue towards thee and that because mercy is with thee thou maiest bee feared Grant these things good Father and all other needfull graces for our soules or bodies or any of thine thorow out the whole world for Iesus Christs sake in whose name we further call vpon thee as he hath taught vs in his Gospel saying Our Father which art in Heauen c. FINIS