thy poore creature and handie worke granting me the fruit of thy sonnes passion which he suffered for my redemption to whom with thée O Father and the holie Ghost be all honour and glorie all power and dominion now and for euermore Amen Amen 18. A praier of the afflicted person O Lord God thou art iust and all thy works and waies are mercie truth and thou iudgest trulie for euermore remember me and looke on me O Lord God and punish me not according to my sinnes or mine ignorance but deale with me as it séemeth best vnto thée And now O Lord worke thy will in me and command my spirit to be receiued in peace that I may be dissolued of this fowle fleshie masse thorough the which I doo nothing but offend thée my Lord God Yet neuerthelesse if it be thy blessed will to giue me longer life in this vale of miserie forgiue me all my sinnes for Christs sake for thou art a mercifull God slowe to conceiue wrath and most readie to forgiue Wherefore extend thy fauour vpon me O Lord which shall confirme the faith of others Though I deserue destruction yet let thy mercie pittie my frailtie for thou art great O Lord for euermore and thy kingdome is world without end Thou scourgest and healest thou leadest vnto hell and bringest backe againe and there is none that may escape thy hand O giue thanks vnto the Lord ye children of men for there is none holie but he none almightie but thou O Lord God Thou hast chastined vs for our misdéeds and of thine owne mercie sake thou hast saued vs wherefore thée will we feare and dread and magnifie the euerlasting king in his works As for me and my soule whilest I liue will I praise thy Maiestie as long as I haue anie being For euer since I was borne thou hast giuen me great cause to praise thée for thou hast béene the defense of my iust cause Heare now my vehement praier my secret complaint and my sighes which I make before thée this daie into whose holie hands I commit my bodie and soule for thou hast redéemed me O thou God of truth Amen 19. A praier of the iustice of God and for the assistance of Gods spirit with an inuocation vpon the Trinitie O Lord I confesse thou dooest not punish me without my deserts therfore I will neuer accuse thée of rigour as the wicked doo for I acknowledge that when thou laiest thy hand heauie vpon anie there is iust cause why thou shouldest so entreat them We are occasion of our owne perdition and can pretend no ignorance to excuse vs withall for thou O God callest vs by thy word and works to follow vertue and flie vice which if we bend our selues vnto depending onelie vpon thée thou hast promised to be our schoolemaister and protectour Thy prouidence O GOD dooth not onelie watch ouer thy church in generall but also ouer euerie member thereof for thy word O Lord is easie to find if we haue a desire therevnto if we be not blinded by the prince of this world Thou most mightie hast power both of land and sea stretch foorth thy mercifull hand to helpe them vp that sinke to kéepe them vp that stand for thou art aboue all and ouer all kingdomes of the earth Thou hast made the heauen and earth Lord bow downe thine eare and heare Lord open thine eies and behold Our true refuge and succour in all temptations and dangers is to flie vnto thée by most earnest praier Thou wilt not here O Lord God for manie words sake or often repetition but thou doost consider our faith and feruent mind for thou doost looke vpon the heart of man and not vpon the outward appearance It is great gréefe O Lord vnto thy children when they sée not the fruits of their praiers which causeth them to thinke that thou hearest not yet doost thou but defer them to cause them to praie more earnestlie and often For when there séemeth to mans iudgement to be no recouerie but all things are brought to despaire then thou O GOD doost shew thy mightie power there is nothing doone without thy prouidence and decrée Wherefore I will call vpon thée with a stedfast faith being assured of thy mercies bicause I haue found thy helpe at néed in my most danger for thou neuer forsakest them that put their trust in thée bicause of nature thou art verie mercifull Therefore the faithfull reuerence thée and are bold to approch néere thy mightie Maiestie most humblie beséeching thée for Iesus Christ his sake that thou wilt cast all our sinnes behind thy backe and giue vs thy grace and holie spirit to lead the rest of our liues in thy feare dooing alwaies that is righteous in thy sight For whosoeuer walketh in his vocation and hath the light of God for his guide néedeth to feare no danger thy rodde and thy staffe shall alwaies hold him vp Guide me O Lord and giue me the most pretious gift of faith which is the head spring of all good works Baptise me inwardlie with the holie Ghost burne and consume all vice in me inflame my hart with the loue of thée and cast thy fauour vpon me O Lord and holie father So doo likewise O Christ my Lord and Sauiour who wast contented to put off all thy glorie that thou wast in before the beginning of the world to take our nature vpon thée and to suffer most bitter passion vpon the crosse for our redemption Wash me with thy pretious bloud and make me a chosen vessell to thy selfe giue me a thankefull hart to praise thy name with continuall thankesgiuing for thy great mercies Come holie spirit inspire my hart with the true knowledge of the father and the sonne procéeding from them both one God in Trinitie and Trinitie in vnitie world without end Amen 20. A praier for faith and grace LOrd giue me faith and grace that I may be wounded in hart to séeke vnto thée for mercie for thou O God hast taught vs in thy holie word to looke for aide and helpe of thee in all perils and that thou art the onlie giuer of victorie in all temptations of our enimies bodilie gostlie For when thou giuest sentence against the wicked they must néeds confesse thée to be iust and themselues sinners For thou O GOD which louest purenes of hart maiest iustlie destroie man who is by nature a sinner much more wilt thou laie thine hand vpon them whom thou hast instructed in thy heauenlie wisdome Thy fauour O God is the fountaine of all prosperitie for thou O Lord doost still behold vs. Thée will we reuerence in what place soeuer we be Helpe me therefore O Lord God in my good purposes and holie worshipping or seruing of thée and grant vnto me to make a perfect enterance and beginning in thée for I haue bin an vnprofitable seruant hitherto O Lord giue me a mind neuer to shew my selfe vnthankful for all thy benefits for
thou O God hast care ouer thine and dooest chasten them for their health that they should not perish for euer with the wicked For thou wilt restore the gouernement of good things to their vse and then the godlie shall follow thée chéerefullie Grant vs we humblie beséech thée to know thy waies and to ascend vp vnto the throne of thy maiestie by faith giuing thée praise and glorie for thy fatherlie preseruation and health towards vs continuallie For thou hast béene a house and defense for vs thou hast chosen vs to be thy people before the foundation of the earth was laid Wherefore we are sure that thou wilt heare vs whensoeuer we call and crie vnto thée for mercie and grace Blesse vs now and euer with all goodnes that we may lead our liues according to thy will liuing in thy feare all the daies of our life that after this course is ended we may dwell with thée world without end Amen 7. Another for the same I Make my humble petition in thy sight O GOD most holie which biddest vs aske and it shall be giuen séeke and we shall find knocke and it shall be opened vnto vs and beléeue onelie and we shall receiue whatsoeuer we desire Lord I beléeue helpe thou mine vnbeléefe and giue me that faith which shal be most acceptable in thy sight Sowe in my heart good Lord the graine of stedfast faith which may aspire and spring vp vnto the mercie seat of thine almightie maiestie for without true faith and obedience we cannot call vpon thée a right Giue me therefore good Lord that most pretious iewel of faith that thou maist thereby heare me And giue me comfort saluation through thy mercifull goodnesse O God who neuer dooest forsake thy faithfull seruants that come to thée in humblenesse of heart looking vpon Iesus Christ thy deare sonne our Lord and Sauiour for he is the trée of life which standeth in the middest of paradise by whom we haue entrance vnto thée O déere father Whosoeuer séeketh anie other waie than this thy déere Sonne he is a théefe and a robber and shall neuer be partaker of the benefits which he of his mercie hath most louinglie bestowed vpon vs which grant me Lord Iesu neuer to forget but euermore to shew my selfe thankefull For it is thou O Lord that art worthie to receiue all glorie honour and praise for thou hast created and redéemed all and without thée we cannot doo anie thing that is good Wherefore Lord Iesus I come vnto thée crauing at thy mercifull hand an humble and contrite heart a patient mind a quiet conscience the gift of faith and of the holie Ghost O thou louer of soules heare me poore wretch although vnworthie once to thinke much lesse to speake vnto thy maiestie But thou art the same Lord who dooest most louinglie saie Come to me all ye that are heauie loden and I will ease you Which comfortable saieng of thine O Christ maketh me bold to come into thy presence vnloding my sinfull sacke of corruption before the face of thine almightie power not doubting but thou wilt mercifullie heare me and ease me with thy helpe for I cast all my burthen on thée who art the giuer of life and saluation Wherefore I turne my selfe vnto thée O Lord Iesus Christ desiring thée by praier to renue whatsoeuer is amisse in me either by mine owne frailtie or malice of the diuell For I acknowledge O Lord that I am the most wicked the most fraile of all others the weakest to resist my ghostlie enimie But I trust through thy mercie to be of the number of them for whom thou hast ouercome the diuell and the world which grant me Lord Iesus for thy bitter passions sake that after this life I may enioie the endles blisse and glorie of heauen To thée with the liuing Father and the holie Ghost be giuen all honour and glorie all praise and thanks for euer and euer Amen Amen 8. A praier of the iustice of God and of his mercie O GOD almightie Lord of heauen and earth from whom nothing can be hid or kept secret thou art the searcher of the hart and reines which knowest the thoughts of all men when I remember thy iust iudgment I tremble and quake for feare considering the burthen wait and filthines of sinne to be so great that for one proud thought a great number of angels fell from heauen The earth was not able to beare the burthen of Corah Dathan and Abiram but for the rebellion against thée and thy seruant Moses the earth opened and swallowed them quicke For the sinne and pride of Dauid who mustered his men putting his trust in the multitude of them rather than in thée that art the liuing God thou scourgedst him with the plague of pestilence so that there died foure score thousand of his people within the space of thrée daies Who would not then feare séeing we sinne dailie with most gréeuous sinnes Now haue we no remedie to flie from thy wrath but to shrowd our selues in the bosome of thy most dearelie beloued sonne our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ making him our bulworke and house of defense betwéene thine anger and vs most humblie beséeching thée for his sake and for the bitter paines that he suffered for our redemption to be mercifull vnto vs and rebuke vs not in thine anger Let not the sentence of euerlasting death take place which thou gauest against Adam and all his posteritie for his disobedience Thou art méeke gentle and long suffering of thy selfe It is our gréeuous offenses heaped one vpon another that prouoke thée vnto anger Therefore acknowledging our offenses we praie thée most mercifull father to haue compassion vpon vs for we are not able of our selues to arise it is thou Lord and thy blessed sonne that must heale our infirmities We haue no strength to withstand the temptation of our enimies thy sonne Christ must reach vs his hand as he did to Peter walking on the water when he was in perill of drowning His patience is our medicine and health thy grace and his are sufficient remedies We are all carnall sold vnder sinne so that the good we would doo that doo we not but the euill that we wold not that we doo We are all euill of our selues Consider O God our contrite hearts and penitent minds and heare heale and amend vs. Hope biddeth vs still to crie and call vpon thée for helpe as the woman of Canaan cried still vpon thy sonne Christ for the helpe of hir daughter and at the last was heard to hir owne contentation so we knocking and calling still doubt not but thou wilt grant through our importunacie our desires as he that granted his neighbour thrée loaues We doo now knocke crie and will neuer cease till thou Lord turne towards vs and deliuer our soules Turne we heartilie beséech thée from thy wrath to pittie and mercie deliuer vs from the manifold troubles which we haue in our
thou art the God which euer hath béene and shall be the GOD almightie by whom all thinges haue their being full of mercie mindfull of thy promise Who so séeketh any other than thée O Christ in whom dooth rest onlie the saluation of our soules that creature shal find nothing but miserie and sorrow Wherfore Lord make me rich in thy fauour and grace conducting me by thy power Graft in me a full trust in thy promises for my deliuerance make me one with thée in euerlasting loue that when it shall please thée to call me out of this miserable world I may liue with thée and my Sauiour Christ who died for me and all people whose name with thée O Father and the holie Ghost be praised now and for euermore Amen 21. A praier of the creation of mankind of the true Samaritane for strength against temptation O Father of heauen of power almightie which with thine onlie word diddest create and make all the whole world and all for the profit seruice of man whom thou diddest create of all other a most noble and perfect creature giuing him power vpon earth the waters and all the fowles and birds of the aire thou madest him also after thine own similitude and likenes induing him with a reasonable soule and all the powers thereof thou also diddest put him in the pleasant garden of paradise excepting nothing from him but the eating of the onlie trée of knowledge of good and euill and further for his helpe comfort and companie of a ribbe of his side thou madest for him a woman and gauest hir to him to be his wife There had they instructions giuen them and the lawe of life for an heritage Before them was laid both life and death good and euill with a fréewill giuen them to take which liked them best But their frailtie was such that they through a small intisement chose the euill and left the good they left life chose death Thus Lord through sin breaking of thy commandements man lost the fréewill that was giuen him in his creation and purchased death to all his posteritie In the waie as he went to Ierusalem and Iericho he fell in the hands of théeues who hurting and wounding him sore departed leauing him halfe dead so that he could haue helpe of none but only of the good Samaritan who as he passed by the same waie powred wine and oile into his wounds and tooke the cure of him This onlie Samaritan was thy deare Sonne Christ which tooke vpon him all the iniquities of mankind and laid them on his backe by his death purging and clensing him not onlie from the originall sin of our father Adam but also from all our sins which we commit from time to time by the vertue of his passion and the sacrament of baptisme vpon our repentance For as by Adam death came to mankind so by Iesus Christ was mankind restored to life For this great and high benefit of thy sonnes blessed passion for our redemption we thy poore creatures praise and thanke thée most humblie acknowledging his inestimable loue towards vs in that thou vouchsafedst to die for vs being then sinners thy mortall enimies Neuerthelesse most mercifull father we are of our selues not able to do any thing that good is no not so much as to thinke a good thought without thine aid and assistance We wander here miserablie in the lowe parts of the vile earth our strength will not serue vs to clime to the high of the hilles where thou dwellest in thy mount Sion a place prepared for thine elect a chosen inheritance of thy faithfull seruant Abraham and his séed Wherefore since we being burthened with the affects of worldlie pleasures and also with other cares and troubles can by no meanes ascend to thée that art on the top of so high a mountaine so manie legions of angels attending on thy Maiestie we haue no remedie but with the prophet Dauid now to lift the eies of our harts and minds towards thée to crie for helpe to come down from thée to vs thy poore and wretched seruants We wander here below as lost shéepe hauing no shepheard we are assailed on euerie side with manifold enimies the diuell rauening and hungering séeketh whom he may deuoure the world allureth vs also to hir deceitfull vanities our flesh also which we carrie about vs is our enimie readie and prone to drawe vs vnto all vices and pleasures From this can we by no meanes be defended but by thée Lord. Send vs therfore thy helpe and holie angell to assist and strengthen vs for of thée most mercifull Father floweth all bountie and goodnes Thou O Lord God madest heauen and earth for thine honour and mans commoditie establish therefore good Lord the chosen works of thy hand with thy eternall helpe from heauen send vs downe the welspring of thy grace and thy strong angell to aide vs by his helpe that no assault of our spirituall enimies doo preuaile against vs but from all euils by thy word defend vs Lord both touching the bodie and also the soule that no temptation preuaile against vs. Thou hast béene our protectour euen from our mothers wombe and our trust is that thou wilt so continue all the daies of our life and speciallie at the houre of our death that we may ascend to the heauenlie Ierusalem where we shall reast in the bosome of our father Abraham the father of all faithfull beléeuers there to praise thée and thy louing Sonne and the holie Ghost world without end Amen 22. A praier and thankesgiuing vnto God for his manifold gifts with an acknowledgment of our sinne and pardon for the same O Praise the Lord our God for euer and let vs giue thanks vnto the name of his glorie which excéedeth all other thankesgiuings and praises for thou art our God alone thou hast made the heauen of all heauens with all the hoste of them the earth and all the creatures which liue by thée the sea and all that moue therein thou preseruest them all through thine omnipotent power For the which all the host of heauen praiseth thée and we thy poore children here on earth doo crie vnto thée Holie holie holie art thou which euer was and euer shall be O Lord God of sabaoth Thou hast made good all thy words and promises for thou art righteous and true and hast considered the miserie of our forefathers for they were stubborne against thée not regarding thy precepts and commandements neither were mindfull of thy wonderous works that thou diddest for them whose footesteps we are prone and readie to follow in all vngodlines in these our daies but thou O Lord art mercifull patient and of great goodnes and forsakest vs not whensoeuer we returne vnto thée Wherefore O Lord heare vs from heauen and forgiue vs all our vnthankfulnes and giue vs faithfull hearts to followe thy commandements which if we doo we shall liue in them For it is not
thou destroie all the vngodlie yet haue wée a sure hope thou wilt deliuer our soules from the power of hell and receiue vs to thée by grace here in this world and after when thou shalt come to the last iudgement to take vs to thy selfe in glorie that where thou art there may we be with thée For we are not gréeued at the vngodlie nor afraid when they be made rich and the glorie of their houses increased We knowe that their honour indureth but a small season vanisheth awaie as dooth the smoke for thou regardest them not therfore thou giuest them things of small estimation Abraham gaue gifts to the sonnes of his concubines and sent them awaie but vnto Isaac he gaue his possessions and all that he had so Lord to the wicked thou giuest temporall things but for thy faithfull thou reseruest thy euerlasting heauenlie inheritance This is a sure and permanent reward the othee soone slippeth awaie their time here is but short and when they die they shall carrie nothing awaie with them neither shall their pompe followe them For thou O Lord wilt driue them awaie As wax melteth at the heat of the fire so shall the vngodlie perish at thy presence then shalt thou change their honour into shame for while they liued they were counted happie men and so long as they were in prosperitie men spake good of them but when they followe their fathers generation they shall neuer sée light any more They were the children of Canaan come of a wicked progenie they haue followed their forefathers steps their déedes were euill they loued darkenesse better than light Wherefore they shall haue euerlasting darknes with torments they shall haue fire but it shall giue them no comfortable heat These paines are ordained for them that were in honour and had riches in aboundance and did forget their estate and for lacke of knowledge were led into captiuitie Wherefore O good God let vs not be of the number of them but build vs vpon thy blessed sonne Iesus Christ the head corner stone in him whosoeuer is builded groweth vnto an holie temple in the Lord his God For of our selues we haue hard harts to beléeue except thou write thy law in our harts by thy holie spirit Now is the acceptable time Lord let vs find grace and fauour in thy sight pardon our wickednes and sinne and take vs to thine inheritance that we may reigne with thée in glorie for euer and euer Amen Amen 31. A praier that we may heare the word of God and keepe it I Am thy seruant Lord giue me vnderstanding that I may learne thy lawe and decrées incline my soule to the words of thy mouth bicause thy talke floweth like vnto dew The Israelits said vnto Moses Speake thou vnto vs and we will heare shée but let not the Lord speake least we die Howbeit I praie not so O Lord but rather with the prophet Samuel I doo humblie and earnestlie beséech thée thus Speake on Lord for thy seruant dooth hearken for thou art the giuer and inspirer of life who art able without anie to instruct me Thy Ministers speake for thée thy secreats but thou vnlockest the vnderstanding of the things pronounced they rehearse to vs thy commandements but it is thy aid and helpe that giueth strength to walke ouer the same and giuest light vnto the minds Wherefore bicause thou art the euerlasting truth speake thou Lord my God vnto me least I die and be made vnfruitfull for thou hast the words of euerlasting life Speake therefore that thing which may bring both comfort vnto my soule and amendment vnto my life and also may cause glorie and immortall honor vnto thée For man dooth perish but thy truth indureth O God for euer Blessed are they therefore whom thou instructest and giuest knowledge vnto O Lord and doost teach thy lawe that thou maist helpe them in time of trouble that they perish not Looke fauourablie vpon me O GOD and grant I praie thée that thy truth may teach me kéepe me and bring me vnto a happie end Let the same deliuer me from all wicked lusts and from inordinate loue Thou hast infinit means and all creatures are at thy commandement therefore good Lord shewe some signe whereby I shall be deliuered and send thine holie angell before me to kéepe me in thy waie and to bring me to the place which thou hast prouided for me that I may liue with thée euerlastinglie world without end Amen 32. A praier wherein the word of God is praised and what things are thereby to be wrought accomplished his mercie and iustice also is heare declared GRant me good Lord to serue thée with a perfect hart and willing mind for thou Lord serchest the hart and vnderstandest all our imaginations and thoughts If we séeke thée thou wilt be found but if we forsake thée thou wilt cast vs off for euer If we depend onelie vpon thée O God we shall not néed to be troubled with these worldlie respects for thou wilt giue vs at all times that which shall be necessarie for bodie and soule if we feare thée and obeie thy holie word which thou wilt haue found true and also magnified for thine owne honour and glorie and for our commoditie Vpon thée therefore will I still call trusting that thou wilt shortlie heare and helpe me I will also call vpon the mightie name of thy sonne Iesus Christ in whose name the faithfull haue and doo dailie cast out diuels from the possessed They haue spoken and doo speake with new toongs And though they drinke anie deadlie thing it shall not hurt them By which also they are procured to leaue their wicked minds and diuelish works in the which they before lead their liues They speake thy holie word and also set foorth thy veritie leauing all lies and deceits They doo suppresse the old serpent sathan plucking out the sting of his taile wherewith he was accustomed to wound them And if at anie time they haue consented to sinne and receiued his poison this name of our sauiour shall kéepe them from all hurts bicause they made inuocation on his holie name which dooth purge them cleane after their heartie repentance For thou O Christ wilt deliuer thine though all worldlie meanrs faile And though we be committed by tyrants vnto temporall death yet through thée shall we vanquish all our enimies for the death of thy saints is deare and pretious in thy sight they néede not feare those that haue power onelie to kill the bodie but let vs feare thy mightie hand which hast power to slea both bodie soule This worldlie death is a waie to bring vs from much trouble to the hauen of euerlasting health into the land of liuers Neuerthelesse Lord of thy iustice let the vniust and cruell enimies of the faithfull stand in dread of thy stretched out arme wherewith in thine anger thou wilt strike them Of thine infinite goodnes thou sufferest long abiding their
when we swarue at anie time out of the right waie by which we iudge that he dooth loue vs for whosoeuer he be that he loueth him he dooth chasten Christs strong shéepheards staffe dooth staie vs when we are weake as a sicke man is by his staffe In Christ thy sonne is the fulnes of grace from whom distilleth all goodnesse that we haue through his holie spirit is our cup filled full of pure liquor it causeth vs for ioie of heauenlie contemplation to forget all the troubles and miseries of the world the dregs of worldlie pleasures and carnall affections For as thy mercie hath gone before vs plentifullie giuing vs aboundance of thy great graces so we trust and doubt not but it will followe vs all the daies of our liues and kéepe vs that we fall not from faith Thou Lord must helpe our house or else we labour in vaine thou must be our beginning and end and then we be sure to dwell in the house of the Lord for euer For we know surelie that if our earthlie mansion wherein we now dwell were dissolued we haue a building ordeined of God an habitation not made with hands but eternallie in heauen where is perpetuall ioie and beatitude world without end Amen 37. A breefe confession that we receiue all goodnes from God ARise vp O Lord God and let thine enimies be scattered before thée and let them that hate thée be brought to confusion Declare O Lord thy might and power for thou art a consuming fire and a gelous God visiting the sinnes of the fathers vpon the children vnto the third and fourth generation For thy gouernement is so iust constant and without change or repentance that thy verie enimies shall be compelled to confesse the same O God almightie thou doost punish thine elect by measure giuest them grace to beare it but to the reprobate it is thy iust vengeance to driue them headlong to all madnesse For thy omnipotencie hath all power in it selfe to execute thy terrible iudgment against obstinate sinners as thou art rich in mercy to comfort them which obeie thy word and loue thée The faithfull in all their aduersities doo knowe that all shall go well with them for GOD will be mercifull and iust and though they want for a time yet thou wilt send them comfort in due season For thy Maiestie is so great that it filleth both heauen and earth and there is no power so high that can let thée when thou wilt deliuer thine The wicked rise vp suddenlie to honour and perish as quicklie but the inheritance of the children of God continueth for euer For thou O GOD wilt take vengance vpon the wicked and measure them according to their dealings Thus thou O God canst plucke backe the bridle of tyrants and deliuer thine owne out of the lions mouth for though the wicked swell neuer so much yet we feare them not They cannot vtterlie destroie vs for thou Lord hast promised to abide with thy faithfull people to the end of the world Thy grace will not leaue vs nor anie that loue thée and serue thée with a faithfull heart Thy fauour O God resteth on thine for thy sonne Iesus Christs sake that from him we might receiue thy blessings For we deserue nothing of our selues but thy wrath and indignation Wherefore grant vs good Lord first to séeke thy glorie and aboue all things reigne thou ouer vs al and let vs render to thée perfect obedience as thine angels doo whom thou hast commanded to take charge of thy children For the which if the wicked despise them thou of thy mercie wilt reuenge their cause for thou wilt preserue the faithful branches of thy vineyard but the rotten stocks wilt thou destroie according to their hypocrisie For there is none like vnto thée in heauen aboue or in the earth beneath Thou dooest blesse the labour of the poore and consumest the goods of them which are negligent bicause they boast and thinke they haue enough The wicked wallow in their riches yet are they but slaues to the godlie that are true professors of the gift of God The cup which thou gauest to the wicked to drinke is much bitter than that thou doost bestow on thine own them thou measurest by mercie the other by iustice And though thou suffer thy children to liue vnder the crosse least they should imbrace wickednesse yet thou wilt not suffer it to rest vpon them that it should driue them from their hope for all thy promises are true Wherefore we are sure of thy helpfull deliuerance séeing the earth and all creatures remaine in that estate wherein thou hast created them much more thy truth indureth constant and vnchangeable Blessed be thou O God of truth and blessed be the glorie of thy holie name world without end Amen Amen 38. A praier wherein is shewed that there is none omnipotent but God alone O Lord GOD almightie it is not in mans power or counsell to hinder that thou hast determined shall come to passe for as the insensible heauen is not subiect to anie alteration and change so shall the truth of thy promises be vnchangeable sith our infirmities cannot in any wise comprehend thée in thy maiestie There is none like thée neither is there anie God besides thée thou killest and giuest life thou woundest and makest whole Wherefore blessed are they that confesse thée and obeie thy word to them thou giuest life and felicitie The ioies that are stedfast and perdurable are giuen of thy goodnesse to those that are méeke and humble in spirit Thou dooest grant to the faithfull of thy goodnesse both grace and glorie so that no good thing shall be withholden from them that liue in thy feare for thou castest awaie none that will séeke thée in righteousnes And though thou suffer the world to hate thine elect it is bicause thy children should forsake the filthines of this world and cleaue vnto thée Wherefore grant vs O Lord that we may alwaies haue the eies of our faith fixed vpon thée for whatsoeuer thou O GOD hast promised shall surelie be performed For as it was thy frée mercie O God that did choose vs so is it thy frée mercie that must saue vs. Thou doost call vs by thy rod to consider the shortnes of our life for our sinnes haue abridged our daies which be not onlie short but miserable bicause we are so sinfull that we doo nothing but prouoke thée to wrath so weake we are so fraile and vnable of our selues to doo that good is inclining alwaies to things forbidden There is nothing so secreatlie doone on earth but thou O God doost sée it who dooest fulfill both heauen and earth Grant vs O Lord alwaies thy feare which shall be a bridle to staie vs from all wickednesse For as thou hast created all people euen so dooest thou gouerne the hearts of all ioining the saluation of thine with thine owne honour so that they cannot perish vnlesse thy glorie should
heart that I offend thée not through hypocrisie And though the wicked deale rigorouslie with me yet I beséech thée let me find comfort from thée for hitherto hast thou strengthened me against my outward and inward enimies so that all the world shall confesse that thou hast wonderfullie preserued me and performed thy promise For thou dooest euer guide me with thy hand that I can turne no waie but where thou appointest me Thy prouidence doth so fast hold me that I cannot by anie meanes escape from thée Thou hast made me in all parts and therfore must néeds know me Wherefore considering thy wonderfull worke in forming me I cannot but praise thée and feare thy mightie power who art the creator of all things the kéeper of iustice the louer of right the hater of malice beholding from the high throne of thy Maiestie the children of men Bow downe thine eare O mercifull Father I humblie beséech thée and heare me thy seruant whom thou hast hitherto brought vp frō my tender age and deliuered me vntill this daie from the hands of the wicked whose rage was furious vntill thou brakest their force I set my hope in thée O God and life euerlasting knowing that these earthlie things shall perish hauing a sure hope that both my soule and bodie shall inioy thy presence O God of my saluation in the last resurrection Then shall I féele thy mercies and answere when thou callest me Wherefore I set all my felicitie and ioie in that I am vnited with thée O God and shall inioie thy presence so that I reiect all other things saue that which furthereth me to attaine to thy heauenlie treasures which is sure and cannot be found in anie but in thée alone whose praise shall indure for euer world without end Amen 41. A praier wherein the sinner praieth for grace that he may make a godlie end BLessed Father of heauen fountaine of all grace and goodnes that art rich in mercie and plentifull in giuing the same to all that doo faithfullie call vpon thy holie name O good God thou hauing a sonne no lesse rich in power wisedome knowledge and mercy than thou art thine owne selfe diddest not spare to send him from thy heauenlie palace downe to the earth into the wombe of a virgine for the saluation of mankind to declare thine aboundant loue towards vs. Thou diddest for our sakes make him poore which before was rich to the intent that we which before were verie poore should by his pouertie be made rich that he which before was all one with thée in thy diuine substance might now be made one with vs that are members of the bodie whereof he is the head Hearken good Lord giue eare vnto my praier let my petition ascend vp before the sight of thy Maiestie The comming of thy mercifull son did make me thine but the vilenes of mine owne acts hath cast me downe and made me verie miserable The greatnes of mine offenses hath caused thée to turne awaie thy face from me withdrawing thy grace which was the cause of the good works I did Thou canst find no good thing in me worthie of thy fauour wherfore Lord behold the face of Christ thy deare Sonne my mediator for his sake giue me that which of my selfe I am much vnworthie to obteine of thée Looke on me with thy pitifull eie and in the time of my trouble incline thine eare and heare me My old enimie daily assalteth me and vexeth me Wherefore I will not cease to call vpon thée dailie but speciallie at the houre of my death Lord heare me defend me at which time my cruel enimie will most busilie inuade me At that instant Lord looke vpon me with the eie of thy mercie now whilest I am in this wretched world I craue not of thée aboundance of earthlie goods but as honest necessitie dooth require but the aboundance of thy grace in this life This hast thou of thy méere liberalitie promised to grant to all that in stedfast faith call vpon thée This hastie calling vpon thée dooest thou delight in for thou art as redie to answer me as I am to call vpon thée Wherefore make spéed in hearing as I am bold to call vpon thée for I confesse O Lord I haue left thy holie word and commandements which is as bread vnto the soule giuing nutriment and moisture by faith and charitie and haue eaten of the trée which thou forbadest me I haue with our father Adam followed the illusions of the serpent tasted of sin but thy blessed sonne my sauiour Iesus Christ hath shed his bloud for vs whereby we are restored vnto thy grace mercie and fauour through the sacrament of baptisme if we hartilie repent He quickneth vs which before were dead in sinne he slaieth and can raise againe he striketh and healeth as he did Paule in his persecution How much therefore are we bound to his grace that without anie deseruing on our parts willinglie offered himselfe to the death for our redemption and to thy maiestie also who didst not spare thine onelie begotten sonne but of thy pure pittie sentedst him downe to suffer the most vile death of the crosse for our sakes Wherefore I am much ashamed to lift vp my eies to heauen towards thy highnesse being so vnkind to thée againe so manie waies I haue loued the works of darkenes and therefore I fled from the light of the bright sunne of iustice for which cause doo I sigh sorrowe and bewaile my wretchednes in the bitternesse of such thoughts for feare of thine anger towards me knowing that at the time of thy comming to the dreadfull generall iudgement the storme of thine indignation shall go forth and fall downe vpon the heads of the vngodlie Thou liftest me vp of a great hight in that thou thou madest me like vnto thine image touching my reasonable soule and hast giuen me power by thy grace to inherit euerlasting ioies of heauen both bodie and soule if I liued here after thy rommandements What greater gift canst thou giue me Lord than to haue the fruition of thée But alas I beare so heauie and erthlie fraile bodie ioined to my noble soule that my heart and mind is drawne downe from the consideration of thy goodnes and from well dooing vnto all kind of vices Wherefore Lord grant me that in the shadow of this life I may haue grace to sée light and to know thée thy waies and thy holie word which giueth light and vnderstanding vnto babes for after this life there is no place nor time left of repentance And since my time is here but short continue thy grace towards me that I may liue in thy feare all the daies of my life and end my life in thy fauour who doost indure for euer and thy remembrance through all generations world without end Amen Amen 42. A praier against the offenses of this world MY hart shall praise thée O GOD for my soule is in loue with thy maiestie
me deare father and send thy holie Ghost to direct me in all my dooings To thée O glorious and blessed Trinitie the Father the Sonne and the holie Ghost be giuen all honor and praise now and for euer more Amen 2. A praier for remission of sinnes for victorie against satan and for the inward light of the soule O Mercifull Father that art the sure safegard and defense of all that earnestlie trust in thée and desirest not the death of sinners but their conuersion and amendment of life I acknowledge vnto thy highnesse all mine offenses by me committed which if I would hide from thée Lord I could not I consider the miserable estate whereto through sinne I am brought for thereby I haue worthilie lost thy fauour and am fallen from thy grace which while thou withdrawest from me I can doo no good thing nor thinke one good thought My sinnes haue caused thée to put me out of thy remembrance and to forget me delaieng to giue me that which is my strength and comfort But how long wilt thou forget me Lord For euer How long wilt thou withdraw thy grace from me Thou knowest my hartie contrition and sorrowe for that I haue vnkindlie forsaken thy seruice and serued thine enimies the diuell and sinne But trusting assuredlie in thy promise made to me and all people by the mouth of thy prophet Ezechiel that is If the sinner will turne awaie from all his sinnes that he hath committed and kéepe all thy commaundements doubtles he shall liue and not die as for all his sinnes that he did before thou wilt not thinke vpon them I now most entirelie beséech thée that as my sinnes were the cause why thou diddest put me out of thy fauour so let my hartie repentance for them cause thée to put my sinnes out of thy remembrance Suffer me not long to remaine in this perplexitie of mind and to take sorrow inwardlie in my hart from daie to daie continuallie fearing the punishment due to my sinne and looking still for thy comming into my soule by grace to deliuer me Hope hath caused me long to looke for thée that art my life and my health thy long delaie in comming hath much increased my desire my feruent desire at length is now turned to a vehement paine Wherefore make hast Lord I beséech thée to helpe my sicke soule and tarrie not Let not mine enimie the diuell long triumph ouer me whose propertie is to tread vnder his féet like a cruell prince all those that be vanquished euen to the pit of hell He did long hold in captiuitie all mankind vntill the comming and passion of Christ for our redemption and since through his craftie traines he hath brought to vtter confusion manie of those that professe thy sonnes religion Wherfore behold Lord and consider my miserable estate heare my humble petition touching my deliuerance from out of his danger Lighten the eie of my hart and vnderstanding with the light of thy grace and comfort thereby expelling the darknes of ignorance Lighten also one other eie of my soule which is the eie of the affection The sight of this eie is so dimme that it hath no perfect and true iudgement yea it is so blinded with the vanities of this world that one thing in appearance séemeth to be twentie like the sight of the deceitfull eies of glasse I beséech thée saue my said eie that it be not put out by our enimie the diuell and send me the light of grace while I haue here time space of repentance that at my latter end mine enimies saie not with ioie that they haue the vpper hand ouer me But all my trust is in thy mercie for though thou hide thy selfe in a cloud that my praier should not go through it vnto thine eares yet are not thy mercies cleane gone neither dooth thy louing kindnes cease Thou art therefore Lord my portion and in thy mercie still will I hope and in none other creature knowing for certaintie that as God thou onelie maist helpe me and as my louing father thou wilt helpe Wherefore in thée my hart shall be ioifull and in thy sauing health which is thy sonne Christ our Sauiour and redéemer The Philistines knowing the presence of thine arke to be in the campe of the Israelits on the daie of their battell were sore afraid saieng Who shall deliuer vs out of the hand of this mightie God Much more will I be glad and take sure trust hauing the presence and comfort of thy liuelie grace And in token of the victorie which thou hast giuen me ouer mine enimies I will not cease as I haue good cause to sing the praises of the Lord that hath so louinglie dealt with me and magnifie the name of the most high all the daies of my life Amen 3. An other praier for the same O God giue me the excellent féeling of thine aboundant mercie for thou art my whole goodnes Who am I that I dare be so bold to speake vnto thée I am thy most poore sinfull seruant a vile worme and much more poore and miserable than I either know my selfe or dare tell vnto thée for my sinnes sticke so fast to me that I haue nothing nor worthie anie thing Thou onelie art good thou iust thou holie and able to doo all things and doost performe all things Thou fulfillest all things leauing the sinfull onelie void and emptie My conscience accuseth me so that I can haue no rest till I be reconciled vnto thée O God my sauiour Remember thy mercies O Lord and fill my soule with thy fauour for how may I continue in this life vnlesse thy mercie and fauour doo strengthen me Giue me grace to put my whole trust in thée without grudging or doubting for I haue and doo dailie waite for thy sauing health Turne not awaie thy face from me neither withdraw thy comforts from me least my soule doo séeme in thy sight like vnto the earth that is void of moisture Lord teach me to doo thy will learne me to walke worthilie and humblie before thée for thou art my wisedome and knowest me what I am in all respects and vnderstandest my thoughts long before Grant me alwaies to séeke thée in singlenes of heart for the remembrance of thy fauor is more swéete vnto me than all the pleasures and deinties of the world For my chéefest comfort is in thée O Christ and not in anie worldlie meanes who hast said Who so ouercommeth the world to them will I grant to féed vpon the trée of life Which grant me for thy holie name sake to whom with the father and the holie Ghost be praise now and for euer Amen 4. An Euening praier O Euerlasting light whose brightnesse is neuer darkned looke fauourablie vpon me thy poore and sinfull seruant who hath not onelie this daie but all the daies and times of my life hitherto vntill this present houre offended thy diuine Maiestie in thought word and déed wherby I haue most