pleased thee to appoint ouer vs a good and gratious Queene which doth gouerne with counsaile and rule with wisedome Grant hir we beseech thee continual peace long life and much happines and deliuer not hir Maiestie into the hands of hir enimies Rule thou hir minde and wil that she may serue thee alwaies in feare and reioice in trembling Let hir maintaine and imbrace pure religion and defend hir people in the profession of Christes Gospel against al errors and superstition whatsoeuer Giue hir wisdome and vnderstanding to doe such things as are grateful in thy sight profitable for vs hir subiects and hurtful to none O God eternal Father heare the petitions of our Queene in al hir trobles the Name of Christ our Sauiour glorifie hir and the comfortable aide of the holie Spirit vpholde hir now and euermore Be mindeful of hir grace for hir good giue to hir according to hir harts desire and prosper al hir purposes that we may reioice in thy saluation and triumph in the Name of our God. Blesse hir Lorde euermore that we may know that hir protector is in the cloudes Harken vnto hir from thine holie heauens by thy mightie right hande which bringeth saluation For though some trust in horses and others in chariots yet wil we remember the Name of our God. They shal fal and be ouercome but we couragiouslie wil persist O Lord protect hir Maiestie heare vs when we cal vpon thee That in thy strength she may reioice and mightilie triumph in thy saluation Grant hir the desire of hir hart and denie not the petitions of hir lips For thou hast preuented hir with notable blessings put a crowne of pure gold vpon hir head She hath asked life of thee thou wilt giue hir a long life Great is hir glory in thy saluation honor and fame hast thou put vpon hir Thou hast ordeined hir for exceeding blessednes and dost comfort hir hart with thy cheereful countenance And why Because she delighteth in thy Christ and doubteth not of thine euerlasting mercie Let thine hand O Lord light vpon hir enimies and thy right hand finde out al such as hate thee and enuie hir prosperitie Put them into a burning furnace in the time of thy displeasure the Lord in his anger shal consume and fire shal deuour them Their fruit shalt thou destroy from the earth and their seede from the sonnes of men Because they intended euil against thee and imagined mischiefe against the innocent which they could not bring to passe Therfore wilt thou turne them into flight and bend thy bowes against their faces Triumph O Lorde in thy virtue and we wil sing out and commende thy power Saue our Queene O merciful God in despite of al hir enimies which either secretlie or openlie go about to bring hir life to the graue and hir glorie to the dust Giue thy iudgement O Lord vnto hir grace and thy righteousnes vnto hir Counsaile that they may iudge thy people with iustice thy poore with equitie Let the mountaines bring peace and the little hils righteousnes vnto thy people Let them iudge the afflicted among the people and saue the sonnes of the poore Make them to destroy the backbyter that he persist not to afflict the miserable and such as trust in thy mercie and protection So shal quietnes and peace abound among vs like the hillockes on the earth Lord shielde our Soueraigne exalt thine Annointed let thine hande assist and thine arme strengthen hir Neuer let hir foes preuaile against hir nor the child of wickednes bring hir to destruction Banish from hir Court al hir priuie enimies and preserue hir euermore from dissembling friendes Grant this O most merciful Father for thy deare Sonne our Sauiour Christ his sake Amen 1. Morning praier on the Lordes daie O Almightie and merciful God eternal Father Sonne and holy Ghost three in persons one in substance God in verie deede and from euerlasting We extol thy sacred Maiestie we praise thine vnspeakeable mercie thy diuine truth we exceedingly comend for that of thy fatherlie and wonderful goodnes thou hast protected vs this night vnder the shadow of thy wings yea thou also hast made vs quietlie to take our rest notwithstanding the dangerous snares of our deadlie enimie the diuel Thou art the God which exaltest vs from the gates of the shadowe of death and from the power of darknes thou deliuerest vs. Therefore we wil acknowledge thee for thy goodnes for the wonderful things which thou dost among the sonnes of men We wil magnifie thee in the great Congregation and among much people wil we praise thee Our harts be readie O our God our harts be readie We wil praise thee O Lord among the people sing to thee among the nations For thy mercie is great aboue the heauens and thy truth vnto the cloudes We wil not hide thy mercie and truth in the great Congregation Because it is a good thing to praise the Lorde and to sing to thee O thou most High To declare thy louing kindnes in the morning thy truth in the night Blesse the Lord O our soules and al that is within vs praise his holie Name Which forgiueth al our iniquities and healeth al our infirmities Which redeemeth our liues from destruction and crowneth vs with mercie and compassion Which satisfieth our longing with good things and protecteth vs from our youth Which also hath kept al our bones this night Not one of them is broken To thee King euerlasting immortal inuisible onely wise God be honor and glory for euer euer Amen Vnto thee O Lord doe we lift vp our soules O God earelie wil we seeke thee our soules thirst for thee our flesh lusteth after thee in a barren drie lande where no water is to see thy strength and glorie O eternal God which hast brought vs to the beginning of this daie defend vs with thy mightie power that this day we fal into no sinne but let al our cogitations wordes and workes tende to the setting forth of thy righteousnes Lighten our minds this morning with the shining and clearenes of thy wisedome that in our harts that true day star may rise shine as it were a candle burning in a darke place Giue vs thy Spirit of wisdome and reuelation in the knowledge of thee And lighten the eies of our vnderstanding that we may know what our hope is how great the glorie of our inheritance and what the excelent greatnes of thy power toward vs. Fil vs with thy mercy in the morning so shal we be glad and reioice al our life long Merciful God endue vs with thine holie Spirit that we may neither thinke speake or doe anie thing this day
but that which may please thee and tend to the aduancement of thy glorie and health of our soules Gouerne thou our vnderstanding and wil and so direct al the cogitations of our hart that we may wholie be thine and sauor of nothing besides thee our God and Redeemer Teach vs the waie of thy Commandements O Lord and we wil keepe it vnto the ende Giue vs vnderstanding to keepe thy lawes and to loue thee our Lord God with al our hart with al our soule and with al our strength and let al thy restimonies be our delight and Counselers Comfort the soules of thy seruants for vnto thee O Lord haue we lifted vp our soules For thou Lorde art good and gentle and of great kindnes to as many as cal vpon thee Behold God earelie now this Morning we doe offer our selues a Morning sacrifice vnto thee a trobled spirit a broken and an humble hart O Lorde thou wilt not despise Make vs fit that we may likewise We see the workmanship of thine hands the Moone and Stars which thou hast ordained and we wil signifie thy glorie vnto al nations and among al people wil we declare thy wonderful things For thou art mightie O Lord and worthie to be praised great is thy virtue and thy power wonderful We thanke thee holie Father God of heauen because thou hast created by thy worde of power the vniuersal worlde with al the creatures and whatsoeuer is liueth or mooueth in the same By thy wisedome thou doest gouerne and by sending of thy Spirit as yet doest vpholde and cherish the same For al woods fruteful trees stones graine flowers herbes and al the grasse of the fielde hast thou ordained for the vse of man. We magnifie thee O God most wise for creating the sea springs of water by the power of thy worde and for giuing them virtue to bring forth fishes of al kinde to be eaten of man. We blesse thee O eternal God for making the superior and lower regions of the aier with al birdes and fethered foules of sondrie kindes for the foode of man. We glorifie thee for giuing the whole frame of this earth with al the creatures in the same vnto mankind and setting man ouer the works of thine hands hast subiected al things vnder his feete Al sheepe and oxen yea and al the beastes of the field The foules of the aire and the fish of the sea which walke through the paths of the sea Especially we praise thee our Lord and maker for making vs thy creatures reasonable men according to thine owne similitude for giuing vs reason and al the senses and for preseruing vs hitherto Thou didst nourish vs that wonderfully being within our mothers wombe and out thereof hast thou brought vs sound in al parts without imperfection and yet continuest thy fauor and dost keepe vs against al dangers and deliuerest vs from al euil and al these things dost thou of thy fatherlie and diuine goodnes without any merit or desert of ours for al which we are bound to thanke thee to praise thee to serue honor and obey thee We extol thy sacred Name O God most high for separating from the rest a Sabbaoth daie that so men cessing from their handie labor the better might serue and celebrate thine honor Who is he that can recite al the power of the Lorde or declare al his workes who can number out al his praises No man can vtter al his benefits Notwithstanding although we be miserable men and wretched sinners and therefore most vnmeete to extol thee according to thy deserts yet wil we not be stil we wil praise thee euermore to the vttermost of our power We wil declare thy iustice and mercie and while we liue wil we remember thy goodnes and at no time forget thy benefits O our soules praise the Lord we wil praise the Lord during our life we wil sing to the Lorde while we haue breath We wil be mindful of our maker euen from our youth and seeke him euermore yea euen vnto our old age and graie head O God forsake vs not vntil we haue declared thy power vnto al nations that are to come Praise the Lord al ye nations praise him al ye people For his louing kindnes is great toward vs and his truth endureth for euer Praise ye the Lord in his sanctuarie praise him in the firmament of his power Praise him in his mightie actes praise him according to his excellent greatnes Let euerie thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lorde 3. A praier for the remission of sinnes RIghteous and merciful God which art cleere from spot and sin al thy waies are mercie and truth We miserable folkes and wretched sinners acknowledge the horrible corruption of our nature and with humble and sorrowful harts bewaile our filthines whereby we haue polluted that image imprinted within vs at our first creation We openlie confesse that manie and great are our sinnes our offences wonderful our transgressions are infinite euen as the sand of the Sea which cannot be numbred For al the cogitations of mans hart are prone to euil euermore O Lord who knoweth his sinnes or who can recite al the transgressions of man Behold we confesse our offences and our sinne is alwaies before vs. Against thee onelie we haue sinned and done euil in thine eies that thou maiest be iust when thou speakest and pure when thou iudgest Behold we were borne in iniquitie and in sin did our mothers conceaue vs and those our sinnes haue we multiplied in our dailie transgressions and therefore haue deserued thy iust displeasure with paines eternal Notwithstanding we appeale vnto thy mercie O Lord beseeching thee not to enter into iudgement with thy seruants for no flesh is righteous in thy sight For if thou streitlie obseruest iniquities O Lorde who shal stand If thou wilt contend with mâ—n he shal not be able to answere thee one for a thousand For what is man that he shoul be cleane and he that is borne of a woman that he should be iust Behold thou foundest no stedfastnes in thy Saints yea the heauens are not cleare in thy sight How much more is man abominable and filthie which drinketh iniquitie like water Behold Lord we are al become vncleane and al our righteousnes is like a filthie cloute Wherfore we humbly beseech thee haue mercy vpon vs O God according to thy great mercy and according to the multitude of thy compassions doe away our iniquities Wash vs throughly from our iniquities and clense vs from our sinne For thy Name sake O Lord be merciful vnto our iniquitie for it is great Remember not the sinnes of our youth nor our rebellions but according to thy kindnes remember thou vs
contentions and factions are carnal and walke as men Wherefore take from vs the zeale of the flesh which is foolish And let al enuie wrath pride and arrogancie be far from vs. Likewise let vs auoide foolish and vnlearned questions knowing that they engender strife and contention and serue for nothing but to the subuerting of the hearers and engrafting of errors Where a desire of strife is there certainlie God dwelleth not and they which raise tumults of nothing and disquiet thy flock those wilt thou O Sonne of God destroie Come holie Spirit replenish the harts of the faithful and inflame in them the fire of thy loue which once didst gather the nations into the vnitie of the faith through the diuersitie of tongues Ioine our harts together that we may nourish christian concorde among vs and that we al glued as it were together in louing harts may be of one minde in thee so shal thy pure doctrine zelouslie be maintained and no false interpretation of the Scripture obstinatelie be defended Bring home to thy fold al such as are turned from the vnitie of true religion that there may be one pastor and one folde To such as are gone out from vs grant constancie that they may continue with vs teaching the Gospel to the saluation of the hearers And if it fortune that any contrarie to the doctrine which we haue learned raise dissention and offences grant that we may auoide them least the harts of the simple through their sweete perswasions and flatterie be deceaued O God autor of peace and concorde giue grace that euerie of vs may thinke the same thing according to our Sauiour Christ Amen 4. A praier for peace O Most Hie God and holie Father which art not the Autor of dissention but of peace not of confusion nor of inordinate life but the keeper of discipline and quietnes from thee come holie cogitations and good counsailes and righteous deedes Giue vnto vs thy seruants that peace which the world cannot giue that both our harts and works may be applied to thy commandements and that our daies through thy protection be alwaies quiet from troble Gouerne thou the whole state both of the Chuch and Common weale and rule our life that in our daies iustice may take place and peace continue as long as the moone shal haue hir course Speake thou peace vnto the common people and ouer thy Saints and likewise to them which are conuerted and turned to a better minde Let thy saluation be nigh them that feare thee that glorie may dwel within our lande Let mercie and truth meete together yea let iustice and peace embrace ech other Let truth arise out of the earth righteousnes looke downe from heauen Let the mountaines and the hils bring peace to thy people by iustice Blesse Lord al Countries Cities Townes and places where thy word doth abide and is purelie preached Let them haue much peace that loue thy Lawe and doctrine and let them be without stones to stumble at and offences let there be peace within their wals and prosperitie within their palaces O Lord strengthen the locks of our ports and blesse thy children within them put peace for our endes and bounds and fil vs with the fat of the corne that thou King of glorie and Lord of hostes maist enter by our gates and the pure worde may abide not onelie in our wals but also in our wils to the glorie of thy Name and comfort of our soules and that honest discipline together with integritie of virtue maners and humane literature may be maintained O eternal God which hast called vs in peace grant that with al men as much as in vs lies we may haue peace and let vs account of holines without which none shal see the Lord. Asswage our harts that we may cleane forget al iniuries and forgiue ech other in many things least by reuenging our selues we take awaie the publike tranquilitie Represse the Diuel the breaker of godlie concord and christian peace which ranging throughout al regions soweth euerie where the seede of strife and debate O God of peace which makest an ende of war in al the worlde and breakest the bowe and knappest the speares asunder and burnest the chariots with fire protect vs from war and slaughter scatter the nations that wish for war. Breake thou and hinder al euil counsailes and the purpose of such as mind and thirst after nothing els but the shedding of innocent blood Confound them in their imaginations that they take none effect let them be turned back and put to shame Let them come to shame and perish through their owne imaginations that Churches and schooles wel ordained be not ouerthrowne nor Idolatrie get the dominion ouer vs. Ingraffe therefore into al men of what calling soeuer a desire of peace contented minds in their vocations and a carefulnes to aduance the welfare of that place where they doe abide so shal they neither through a desire of others wealth nor by ambition or vaine glorie raise any tumults to our disquietnes And where strife contention discord is among men there doe thou O most mightie God reconcile their harts and minds that those flames and fires may speedilie be put out For thou canst conclude a truce for vs with the stones of the grounde and compel the beasts of the fielde to seeke those things as belong to our peace and the wolfe to dwel with the Lambe and the Leopard to lie downe with the Kid. Therefore make our tabernacles safe quiet that about them there may be a rich tranquilitie which may abound like the streame running ouer his bank and our righteousnes as the waues of the sea which is neuer without water In the Lorde shal we haue our wished peace and the worke of righteousnes shal be peace hir frute rest and quietnes for euer And thy people shal dwel in the Innes of peace and in sure dwellings in safe places of comfort In ioie shal we go forth and returne in peace the mountaines and hils shal sing with vs for ioie and al the trees of the field shal clap their hands Heare vs O Lord of peace and grant that thy peace which passeth al vnderstanding may keepe our harts and minds in our Lorde Iesu Christ which liueth and raigneth with thee in the vnitie of the holie Spirit a God now and for euermore Amen 5. A praier for vnbeleeuers VNto thee doe we crie O Lord Father and maker of al men which art rich vnto al that cal vpō thee and which commandest the light to shine out of darknes For thou wilt that al men should be saued and come to the knowledge of the truth And therefore of thy great loue thou diddest cal vs to the participation of the lot of the Saints in light which are by
and merciful God before thee doe we sigh beseeching thee by the death and burial of our Lord and Sauior Christ thy welbeloued Sonne that thou wouldest vouchsafe to couer and burie al our misdeedes whatsoeuer from our infancy vntil this present houre either wittinglie or ignorantlie we haue committed and especiallie those which this weeke we haue done in thought word or deede against thy diuine maiestie and commandements al which to thee alone which knowest al things we confesse with broken harts and lowlie spirits beseeching thee to pardon them and to forgiue al our sinnes whereof thou knowest we are guiltie and to deliuer vs from al euils both present and to come O Lord heare the voice of our praier encline thine eare vnto vs in the daies of our necessitie when we shal crie vnto thee The snares of death haue compassed vs about and the straightes of hel haue taken holde of vs we haue lighten vpon sorowe and troble Notwithstanding we wil cal vpon the Lord O Lord deliuer our soules Gratious is the Lord and righteous yea our God is merciful The Lord preserueth the simple we were in troble and he helped vs. Turne then againe vnto your rest O our soules For the Lorde wil blesse ye Thou wilt deliuer our soules from death our eies from teares and our feete from falling that we may walke before thee in the lande of the liuing O Christ God and Sauior of the worlde saue vs Lord watching keepe vs sleeping that in peace we may both rest and wake Be thou our light in darknes then shal our life be as cleere as the noone daie and shine forth as the morning so that with confidence and securitie we may lie downe and sleepe none shal make vs afraid because thou art our protector O Sonne of righteousnes and brightnes of perpetual charitie lead vs into the vision of thy light where thou shalt euerlastinglie shine vpon vs and thou God be our glorie The Sunne there shal not go downe neither the Moone be hid but thou Lorde shalt be our euerlasting light that our sorowful daies may take an ende Grant likewise that leauing this place of darkenes we may be translated into the true and new light which we now looke for through faith vntil the perpetual morning appeere vnto vs that we may beholde thee in a cleere light face to face where shal be no night and we shal neede no candle neither light of the Sunne but thou Lorde wilt lighten vs. O holie Spirit God be thou a light vnto vs At our last gaspe when our harts pant our strength faileth our sight departeth our hearing is deafe our mouth dōme when our feete cannot go nor our hands feele when al our senses forsake vs giue vs some sense of eternal life that we may taste in this world the beginnings of thine euerlasting ioie and at our departure out of this world behold by faith thy diuine presence and so sleepe quietlie to eternal life Amen Here follow certaine peculiar praiers for some special persons A praier for anie Preacher or Shepherd of soules O Eternal God which of thy great mercie hast vouchsafed to cal me a miserable and most vnworthie man to the ministerie of thy Gospel and hast appointed me to be a feeder of soules and a fisher of men and now at the length segregated me according to thy good pleasure to preach the word of saluation vnto this flock and people committed to my charge With lowlines of spirit sighes vnfained I beseech thee O Christ which art our chiefe shepheard and Archbishop make me an able minister of the newe Testament a chosen vessel and profitable instrument for the carrieng of thy message before the nations and Princes of this world as it becommeth the minister of Christ and faithful dispenser of the mysteries of God and neuer let me proue an idol or idle shepherd Worke thou effectuallie through me and grant good successe vnto my doings that fruitefullie I may vtter to mine auditors the healthful and heauenlie foode of their soules which is the syncere preaching of thy gratious worde without al corruption or deprauing of the same Take not fro my lips the word of truth and let me not speake either the imaginations of my foolish braine or the vaine perswasions of my owne hart but may vtter thine heauenlie worde and minister according to the virtue which thou dost grant that in al things thy glorie may be sought of me That I follow not after couetousnes feeding my selfe and forsaking my flock but giue me such an earnest care of their wel doing that without constraint cheerefullie and gladlie being bounde therevnto I may discharge mine office That I be not desirous of filthie lucre but with a willing minde may profit the Church neither as an exerciser of auctoritie ouer my flock but that euen through an hartie zeale of thine holie Name I may feede and make fat in the plentiful and godlie pastures of thy pure worde thy sheepe committed to my trust That I may retaine a diligent consideration of the weaker sort and helpe the feeble heale the sick strengthen the bruzed that I may bring home that which is seduced and seeke that is lost and carefullie prouide for that which is strong that I labor not in mine office negligentlie nor accomplish the worke of thee my maister with deceipt O almightie God whose dwelling is aboue the cloudes which hast appointed me a keeper and watchman for thy people to forewarne the simple that they be not through the subtiltie of vaine teachers deceiued seduced and made a praie and spoile for the beasts of the field make me so watchful and careful ouer thy flock that couragiouslie I may withstand and beate awaie those rauening wolues which teare and scatter thy flock and by reprouing and refuting their heresies ouercome false prophets Giue me that vtterance and wisedome which none may resist or gainesaie Grant me a learned and eloquent vtterance to diuide thy word rightlie and wisedome distinctlie and in right order to propose the same and to be able and readie to admonish and to comfort the weake and if anie offende through weakenes to wyn him vnto weldoing by the spirit of meekenes and modestlie to rebuke such as may be recouered but those which openlie doe sinne without blushing to take vp before the congregation not regarding the person that the rest by their example may feare and forsake their wickednes O Sonne of God our continual Intercessor which hast ordeined me to be a voice crieng endue mee with the grace of thine holie Spirit that I may exalt my voice like a trumpet and declare their wickednes vnto thy people and neuer shewe my selfe as a domme dog which cannot bark so shal I not be partaker of their
adorne me with the pretious stones of virtue and place vpon mine head glorie and honor that al mine ornament may be inward and that I may please thee through hoping in thy mercie For thou art mine husbande which louest me my God whom I worship and the head wherevnto I am subiect Giue me grace that I neuer delight in mine owne fairenes and so plaie the harlot following mine old louers which promise me bread and water wol flaxe oile drinke O God the holie Ghost which maintainest the loue of married folkes within our brests I humblie beseech thee inflame the heate of chaste affection betweene al married folkes Giue me wisedome discretelie to dwel with my wife considering alwaies that naturallie she is weake and for that cause I must beare with much foolishnes and swalowe vp manie sorrowes when I shal perceiue the weaknes of hir affections And for asmuch as I am the head of my wife giue mee grace with iudgement godlie both to instruct hir and to bring vp my familie in the knowledge and feare of thy Name Let me neither ouer nicelie bring them vp nor to roughlie entreate them but gently vse them that they may both continue in thy feare and yeeld me due obedience but especiallie liue godlie in thine eies Blesse thou my wife that she may proue a sweet companion vnto me louing mee vnfainedlie from the hart without dissimulation so that I may safelie trust in hir and she may render vnto mee good for good not euil for good O God which art a chaste minde make me with a chaste bodie and pure affectiō to serue thee in chaste matrimonie and neuer with a wicked eie to beholde the wife of another man to lust after hir neither yet to forsake my proper bed with the losse of my soule Driue awaie Satan the mortal enimie to this thine ordinance that he sowe not contentions braules betweene vs. Cut of al occasions of debate and sinister suspicions that so in a true conioining together of minds we may in this world liue virtuouslie and hereafter in the worlde to come raigne eternallie according to thy worde Amen Reade the praier for wedded folkes afore pag. 108. A praier for children OEternal and euerliuing God Father of our Lord Iesu Christ maker of heauen and earth which hast inioined vnto vs children that with due obedience we honor our parents which thing not onelie true religion doth exact but also natural reason doth binde vs vnto Besides thou art maruelouslie delighted with such obedience of children towarde their parents for thy Sonnes sake our Lorde And that the more willinglie we may obeie them thou hast made a singular promise of long life vnto vs. And as the obedience of children which they owe and shewe to their parents is exceedinglie grateful in thy sight so contrariwise obstinacie and disobedience is most vnsauerie and displeaseth thee The which may be gathered by the horriblenes of punishment which thou denouncest against stubborne and disobedient children I beseech thee therefore most humblie euen for thy Sonnes sake in whom onelie thou delightest lighten the eies of mine vnderstanding that aboue al I may truelie and syncerelie acknowledge thee my principal Father of whom al the familie both in heauen and earth is named and in true inuocation and thankesgiuing obeie and in true holines and righteousnes serue thee my God and heauenlie Father from whom I drewe vital breath my soule and bodie with al the faculties and powers that I haue For which cause I am bound rather to obeie thee my maker than men and to be occupied in those things which belong to thee my Father which art in heauen and cheerefullie to go about that which thou hast enioined me Secondlie giue me grace to honor mine earthlie parents in deede and word in al patience and neuer to be a cause of their sorow and griefe of minde And when their vnderstanding shal faile through age be it far fro me that I doe either disdaine or deride them albeit I am beautified with neuer so excellent gifts of nature but make me to beare with the weaknes of their age as I am bound both by thy word and in conscience to doe so shal I be blessed For he which honoreth his parents shal haue ioie of his owne children and when he maketh his praier he shal be heard O Lord forgiue thou my sinnes whereby I haue offended my louing parents O remember not the sinnes of my youth nor my rebellions but according to thy mercie remember thou me euen for thy goodnes sake O Lord. Let the example of thy Sonne my Sauior Christ which in his childhoode was obedient vnto his parents be depainted and fixed alwaies in my minde the better to obeie them which begat and haue brought me vp and to relieue them being weake either through age or sicknes For he which forsaketh his father shal come to shame and he that angreth his mother is cursed of God. Likewise let it please thee to giue me a willing hart to obeie my teachers and betters and to omit no part of dutie and reuerence which I owe so that I may alwaies declare my selfe to be a decliner from euil and a doer of good a seeker of peace and a follower of the same O Christ Iesu which hast giuen to weake yeeres the benefit of docilitie giue likewise to the towardnes of my nature the aide of thy grace that I may learne good nurture and liberal artes seruing to the aduancement of thy glory wherby the more easilie I may attaine to the knowledge of thee whom to know is perfect happines and felicitie For thou art the fountaine from whence al wisedome vnderstanding proceedeth without whom al our studies lacke good successe Wherefore at thy hands doe I beg wisedome which giuest liberallie without reproching any man. Lighten thou mine vnderstanding with thy grace that hauing learned the liberal artes and the tongues I may applie them to those endes wherevnto they serue that according to thy sacred infancie I may profite as in yeeres so in wisedome and virtue both afore thee and man O God the holie Ghost purifie mine hart by a liuelie faith that I spend not my time in vaine pleasure cockering mine affections Extinguish in me the flames of doting and filthie loue and let me neuer serue the lust of the flesh like horse and mule which haue none vnderstanding Thine hands O Lord haue made and fashioned me O giue me vnderstanding that I may learne thy Lawe I am smal and of no reputation yet wil I neuer forget thy righteousnes For thy righteousnes is a perfect righteousnes and thy Lawe is truth Amen Vse the praier for yong folks which you shal finde afore pag. 114. A praier against the Turke or anie other foraine Tyrans O Omnipotent eternal God Father of
daie O Lord our God we haue sinned we haue done wickedlie we haue behaued our selues vngodlie in al thine ordinances Turne thy wrath from vs we beseech thee for we are but a fewe left in this place O Lord God which hast promised that when either pestilence is among vs or the aire infected or any other plague or sicknes is hot thou wilt heare the praiers and grant the requests of any man among the people praieng from the bottom of his hart acknowledging his sinnes vnfainedlie and lifting vp his hands vnto thee through Iesus Christ before the throne of grace Be thou merciful giue vnto euerie man according to al his petitions For thou alone knowest the harts of al the children of men Heare thou our praiers and petitions and deliuer vs from this contagious and deadlie pestilence Commande thine Angel which striketh vs to put vp his sworde into the sheath that he strike vs not to our final and vtter destruction proceede not in thy wrath spare vs froÌ„ death and bring not our ende by the plague Let the heauens be milde our dwelling places healthful least the aire being infected poure downe the contagion thereof vpon vs to our destruction O Lord turne awaie thine hand it is sufficient let now thine hand cease that al the earth may know how that thou Lord art our God and that we doe cal vpon thy name O Lord looke downe from thine holie house vpon vs encline thine eare and heare vs. Open thine eies and beholde the affliction and mortalitie of thy people For the dead whose spirits are taken awaie giue vnto thee neither praise nor righteousnes but the â—oule that is vexed for the multitude of hir sinnes which goeth on heauilie and weakelie whose eies begin to faile yea the hungrie soule is it that ascribeth due praise and righteousnes vnto thee O Lord. For we poure out our praiers before thee and require mercie in thy sight O Lord our God not for anie worthines either of our owne or of our fathers but in the name of thy sonne Iesus Christ in whom thou art wel pleased we beseech thee be merciful vnto vs and helpe vs in necessitie Turne thee againe O Lord at the last and be merciful vnto thy seruants that this poisoned infection may be taken from vs. Notwithstanding if it be thy pleasure to visite our offences with the rod thy blessed wil be done and giue vs grace to beare thy fatherlie correction laide vpon vs pacientlie remembring alwaies that we are chastened of thee our Lorde in this world that we be not condemned with the reprobate in the world to come Amen A praier for the sicke you shal find afore pag. 153. A praier to auoide both raging tempests and vnseasonable weather O Most wise and mightie God thou art a glorious King in al the world thy woonderful maiestie doth shine and is knowen also by raine thundering lightening and other meteors ingendered in the aire thy throne is among the cloudes thou hast made darckenes thy secrete place and thy pauilion about thee euen darknes of water and cloudes of the aire At the brightnes of thy presence the cloudes doe passe awaie so doe the hailestones and fierie coles Thou dost thunder from the heauens and giuest thy voice hailestones and coales of fire Thou sendest thy arrowes and scatterest them thou encreasest lightnings and destroiest them Who is so great a God as thou our God Thou art the God which dost woonders and declarest my power among the nations Thou redeemest thy people with thine arme The waters sawe thee and were afraide the depthes trembled The cloudes poured out water the aire thundred thine arrowes went abroade The voice of thy thunder was heard round about the lightnings lightened the worlde the earth trembled and shooke The foundations of the earth were discouered at thy rebuking O Lord at the blasting of the breath of thy nostrels Therfore shal the verie heauens extol thy wonderous workes and the Saints set forth thy truth in the Congregation For who is equal to thee in heauen and who like thee among the sonnes of the Gods Thou art verie terrible in the assemblie of the saints and to be reuerenced aboue al that are about thee O Lord God of hosts who is like vnto thee which art a mighty Lord and thy truth is about thee Thou rulest the raging of the sea thou stillest the waues therof when they doe arise Thou onelie art of power to resolue into vapors the drops of the sea by the heate of the sunne thou takest the same vp being turned into airie substance and againe turnest it into meere water and makest it to come pouring downe vpon the face of the earth Whatsoeuer thou wilt thou dost in heauen and in earth and in the sea and in al deepe places With thy power thou madest the earth with thy wisedome thou hast established the world and with thy discretion stretched out the heauens Assoone as thou lettest thy voice be heard the waters in the aire waxe fierce thou drawest vp the cloudes from the ends of the earth thou turnest the lightening into raine and bringest foorth the winde out of thy treasures thou couerest the heauens with clouds and preparest raine for the earth thou makest the grasse to growe vpon the mountaines and prouidest herbes for the vse of man thou giuest to beasts their foode and to the yong rauens that crie Behold so great art thou that thou passest our knowledge neither can the nomber of thy yeres be searched out When thou restrainest the drops of water the raine poureth downe by the vapors thereof and falleth abundantlie vpon man. Thou bringest forth the windes out of thy treasures that is from the secret places where thou didst hide them in great abundance that they might be readie at thy commandement and come forth when thou thinkest good Thou makest the cloudes to labor to giue water to the earth and scatterest the cloude of thy light Thou turnest it about by thy gouernment that they may doe whatsoeuer thou commandest them vpon the whole world O God mine hart is trobled very sore when I beholde the immoderate showers and heare the terrible thunder yea it forsaketh his place when I heare the noise of thy voice and the speech proceeding from thy mouth O God which rulest heauen and earth I most humblie beseech thee mercifullie to driue awaie or at least to mittigate these mightie streames and most raging tempests Restraine the thunderbolts and thy fierie darts that they hurt vs not Keepe vs and our nestes that we perish not through lightenings nor be destroied by thy thunder-claps Protect our houses vs that we be neither consumed by thy firie meteor nor be drowned by any suddaine flood O
be without fault in the foundation without sinne against my conscience and walke worthie this Sacrament forsaking vtterlie and renouncing the Diuel and al Idolatrie al vices and carnal desires which fight against the soule For we cannot be partakers of the Lordes table and of the Diuels to Make me also to remember that by this sacrament I am bound to do good vnto others For as manie graines of corne do make one loafe and manie grapes make one wine so being manie yet are we but one loafe and one bodie inasmuch as we al participate of one bread and drinke of one cup. Ioine vs therfore together O Sauior of the world at this common banquet through the band of loue that we may be fastened vnto thee our head That as thou diddest die for vs so we againe may not feare to suffer and to giue our liues for the glorie of thy name that we neuer be separated from thee neither in life nor death Make vs also hartilie to loue one another like the true and liuelie members of thy bodie that if need require we may giue our liues for our brethren Suffer not concord of mindes to be broken For hee that receiueth the mysterie of vnitie and keepeth not the bond of peace he doth not receaue the mysterie for himselfe but a testimonie against himselfe Giue grace therefore that laieng aside al wrath fiercenes maliciousnes and enuie we may forgiue one another euen as thou forgiuest vs and beare one with another for the better auoiding of strife diâ—fension sectes and pernicious heresies Keepe this thine ordinance and right vse of thy Sacrament among vs euermore that this good worke and diuine ceremonie may alwaies be a note and badge of our publike profession whereby we are knowne from Pagans and tokens of loue confession and thankefulnes Remooue awaie al abuses and prophanations of this holie and sacred supper together with the horrible and Idolatrous adorations inuented by Satan and his members to the shameful deforming of thy godlie and goodlie institution but maintaine I humblie beseech thee the true and vnpolluted vse thereof til thy pleasure is to returne in the cloudes to iudgement with great power and glorie that it neuer be out of remembrance And last of al at our resurrection from death appoint vs places in thy heauenlie table where we may taste the new wine in the kingdome of thy father abiding with thine elect Angels and blessed Saintes for euermore Amen A praier for the Sick. O Almightie and merciful God Father of our Lord Iesu Christ which through corporal diseases both puttest me in minde of my mortalitie and also callest to repentance For thou wilt not the death of a sinner but that he conuert and liue Vnto thee doe I crie O Lorde rebuke me not in thine anger neither chastise me in thy wrath haue mercie on me O Lorde for I am weake O Lorde heale me for my bones are vexed My soule is also trobled verie sore but Lorde how long wilt thou delaie Returne deliuer my soule O saue me for thy mercies sake Heale me O Lord and I shal be whole saue thou me and I shal be saued For thou art my praise Thou hast wounded and thou wilt heale me thou hast strooken and thou wilt cure thou dost kil and restore to life againe Wherfore if this my sicknes be not vnto the death helpe me vpon the bed of my sorow Turne the whole palat of my weaknes into ioie Maie it please thee O Lorde to deliuer me out of the myre For the graue wil not acknowledge thee nor death confesse thee but the liuing I saie the liuing wil extol thee for euermore O Lorde heale me that I may praise thee al my life long through my Sauior Amen Another praier for the Sick. O Christ Iesu Sonne of the liuing God our Redeemer and our Mediator for euermore in our weake flesh thou wentest about the earth preaching the glad tydings of the kingdome touching the forgiuenes of our sinnes and curing euerie sicknes and euerie disease among the people For thou hast truelie taken vpon thee our infirmities and borne our paines For where sinne abounded there thy grace did more abound Wherfore I praie most humblie beseech thee be merciful vnto me heale my soule For I haue sinned against thee strengtheÌ„ it by the sweete comfort of thy Gospel and confirme my faith then if it be thine heauenlie pleasure restore health vnto my weake bodie If thou wilt thou canst make me cleane onelie doe but speake the worde and I shal be healed For it is not herbes nor plasters that restore health but thy worde O Lord which healeth al things It is thou Lord which hast the power both of life and death thou leadest vnto deaths doore and bringest vp againe But if it be more expedient for me to die than to liue then deale with me according to thy wil O Lord and commande my spirit to be receaued in peace the which I commende into thine hands thou hast redeemed me O Lord God of truth which liuest and raignest with the Father and the holie Ghost one God for euermore Amen Another praier for the Sick. O Eternal God which art ful of coÌ„passion and mercie slowe to anger and great in kindnes thou forgiuest our falts couerest our sinnes and dost not impute our iniquities vnto vs Vnto thee doe I bende my praier beseeching thee to pardon al my sinnes and to heale al mine infirmities Saue my life from destruction and compasse me about with mercie and louing kindnes For thou art the God of my saluation mine helper in thee hath mine hart trusted Despise not the workes of thine owne hands neither suffer him to perish whom thou hast created and redeemed O Christ lambe of God which takest awaie the sins of the world and washest vs from al our offences by thy pretious blood encrease my faith that firmelie I may apprehende the saluation promised Blesse thou my soule at hir departure from the bodie that euermore I may reioice with thee And holie Ghost eternal God which art the best Comforter in al extremities be thou present I beseech thee at the houre of my death and impart thy sauing health vpon me that mine hart doe not faint nor be trobled Amen Reuel 7 12. Praise and glorie and wisedome and thankes and honor and power and might be vnto our God for euermore Amen a Lactantius de diuino praemio cap. 4. Cicero lib 2 de Natura Deorum b Gene. 1 6. Psalme 8 6. Causes why daily praier is necessary 1. From the end of mans creation 2. From the commandementes of God. c Psa. 50 15. d Mark. 13 verse 33. e Colos. 4 2. 3. From the promise of God to here our petitioÌ„s f Luk. 11 9. g Iohn
of good letters maintaine peace and concorde in his Church and make vs al continually to addict our selues to aduance his glorie both in deede and worde and to benefite his Church to the vttermost of our power that liuing alwaies in his feare we may die in his fauor and rise againe to euerlasting blessednes Amen A Praier to be saide at the comming into the Temple O ALMIGHTIE God and heauenlie Father in the multitude of thy mercie we wil come into thine house and in thy feare wil we worship towardes thine holie Temple Direct our step◠in thy worde Bring vs into the path of thy commandements For thou art the God of our saluation Lorde we haue loued the habitation of thine house and the place where thine honor dwelleth O Lorde of hostes how amiable are thy Tabernacles Our soules long yea and pine away through the desire to come vnto thy court Wee wil acknowledge thee in a great Congregation we wil praise thee among much people Come let vs worship fal downe and kneele before the Lord our maker For he is our God and we are the people of his pasture and the sheepe of his hande Exalt the Lorde our God and fal downe before his footestoole for he is holie We wil go vnto the altar of God euen vnto the God which comforteth our soules and in an acceptable time doe we make our praier euen in the multitude of thy mercie O God heare vs in the truth of thy saluation Amen An earnest petition for the assistance of Gods holy Spirit that our praiers may be zealous and effectual O Almightie and merciful God Father of our Lorde Iesus Christ forasmuch as it is thy wil and plesure that in al our necessities we should cal vpon thee our God worship thee and with yeelding hartie thankes extol thine holie Name and therwithal hast promised to heare our petitions we are emboldened to direct our praiers vnto thy diuine Maiestie But considering the weakenes of our nature to be such that we knowe not how to aske as we should and thou alone both wiselie doest knowe and effectually canst grant not onely what we doe desire but a great deale more than we can thinke vpon our praier shal be vnto thee our God that according to thy promise thou wilt poure vpon vs the Spirit of grace and praier which may with vnspeakable groanings make intercession for vs that not with lips onely our harts being far from thee but with minde and mouth together we may vnfeinedlie as becometh true worshippers in spirit and truth with a burning affection of the hart cal vpon thee which art the true and eternal God and offer the grateful sacrifice of thankesgiuing Prepare thou our minds to praier make them zelous least otherwise we be like such as praieng tempt god Therefore in our praiers let vs not dissemble like Hypocrites neither boast of our wel doing like Pharisees to be seene of men but onely set forth thy glorie and aduance thine holie Name Turne our harts from beholding either images or strange Gods or else dead Saints but let vs worship 〈◊〉 onelie serue thee in our praiers which art our Lord God Creator of al things sercher of the hart rich towards al that cal vpon thee Instruct our minds that we desire not foolishlie vaine and transitorie things But let vs alwaie craue corporal things according to thy wil with this condition If they bring none hurt vnto our soules and euermore prefer celestial things which are to be asked without al exception before worldelie that our ioie may be perfect in the heauens Grant therefore almightie Father that we may certainely perswade our selues that whatsoeuer we shal aske at thine hands through faith we shal obteine the same and let vs neuer doubt of thy fatherlie affection towarde vs or bring thy willingnes to grant our petitions into question but through a liuely faith and firme confidence let vs constantly beleeue that our praiers shal effectually be hearde through and for thy Christs sake in whom al thy promises are yea and are in him Amen Furthermore if at any time our praiers be not granted speedilie according to our wish giue vs a strong faith that wee faint not but may through patience expect thine aide knowing that coming it wil come and thy truth wil not linger Gouerne therfore our harts by thine holie spirit that we appoint not a time manner or limits of helping vs but may in al thinges submit our selues to thy most heauenlie pleasure and commende our praiers vnto thee in hope silence for thou wilt not misse an houre but wilt come at a time conuenient Likewise illustrate our mindes with thy light that we cast not forth our praiers trusting in our owne righteousnes but in thy manifolde mercies through Christ by whome we haue boldnes by faith to approch vnto thy throne to cal thee Abba Father Couerne our harts and mindes that in praieng we neither presume nor trust vpon our owne worthines so through pride contemne others but let vs humblie and louinglie like brethren praie one for another that we al may be saued Take away from vs al babling and superfluitie of words that we be not as Ethnikes which for their long speach thinke to be hearde Assist vs also that the sight and remēbrance of our owne vnworthines doe not terrifie vs from praier and that we be not let by other causes from ernest crieng vnto thee night and daie that the wil of thy seruants and reuenge of thine elect may be fulfilled Now therefore heauenlie Father and eternal God giue grace that in al places we may praie lifting vp pure handes without wrath or doubting and saie Forgiue vs our trespasses and with deepe sighings sure confidence continuallie persist in making of supplications praiers intercessions and giuing of thankes for al men that according to thy promise we may receiue as wel temporal as heauenlie benefites For this is the confidence which we haue in thee that whatsoeuer we shal aske according to thy wil thou wilt grant vnto vs. And hearing al our petitions we doubt not but that our requestes which at this time we haue made vnto thee by Christ our Lorde shal in like manner be granted who liueth and raigneth with thee in the vnitie of the holie Spirit a God now and for euermore ▪ Amen A dailie praier for the perpetual happines of our sacred and most gratious Soueraigne and Queene Elizabeth OAlmightie GOD King of Kings and Lord of Lords in thine hands is al power both in heauen and earth thou confirmest kingdoms and againe dost alter them according to thine heauenlie pleasure We praise thee we magnifie thee we extol thine holie Name for that it hath
holie Name nor suffer thy kingdome to be brought vnto vs. Comfort and keepe vs stronglie in thy word and faith euen til our liues ende that so both thy good and gratious wil may be done in our harts and they which as yet beleeue not thy worde by our good conuersation may be wonne to thy Gospel and glorifie thee our God to the encrease of thy celestial kingdome Make vs meete to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light Thou which hast deliuered vs from the power of darknes translated vs into the kingdome of thy beloued sonne in whom we haue redemption through his blood that is the remission of sinnes that we may be grounded and stablished in faith and not mooued awaie from the hope of the Gospel but may walke vnblameable and without fault in thy sight as it becommeth the children of light in al godlines and honestie And forasmuch as thy kingdome is not meate nor drinke neither consisteth in ceremonies and traditions which are inuented by man neither commeth it with obseruations neither is it in word but in righteousnes and peace and ioie in the holie Ghost and in power Grant O eternal God that we being borne anew by thy word and holie Spirit may attaine the inheritance of eternal life and lifting vp our harts on hie where Christ sitteth at thy right hande may set our affections on things which are aboue and not on things on the earth Therefore be thou present with vs in these latter daies of the world and begin thy kingdome in vs prosper the same with thy diuine assistance that we may be conformable vnto thy godlie pleasure purchasing thy fauor in this world and afterward in thy newe kingdome in the kingdome of glorie where thou God art al in al may ioiefullie remaine with thee for euermore Grant therefore that we may be poore in spirit in hart humble sorowful in minde for our offences and may with al our harts hunger and thirst after righteousnes Make vs lowlie and courteous liberal and pittiful pure in hart and peace-makers likewise in persecutions and trobles patient that we neither take nor giue offence vnto any but may exercise our selues in the workes of charitie and of mercie feeding the hungrie giuing drinke to the thirstie clothing the naked lodging strangers comforting the weake and visiting the imprisoned Finallie of thine abundant mercie grant that in thy last iudgement we may heare that ioieful and most cōfortable voice of thy welbeloued Sonne saieng Come ye blessed of my Father inherite the kingdome prepared for you from the foundations of the worlde Amen 5. A praier for Magistrates OMost mightie GOD King of al the world which by thine holie Spirit hast commanded that supplications praiers intercessions and giuing of thanks be made for al men for Kings and for al that are in auctoritie which thou hast placed to be rulers of the earth according to thy good wisedome and set in gouernement at thy good pleasure For thou exaltest some vnto the top of honor and protectest their dignitie thou castest not downe the mighty which art mighty thy selfe and placest Kings in their throne For al power is from thee We beseech thee therefore euen with deepe sighs of hart O Lord of Lordes that forgiuing our sinnes thou woldest giue good Rulers and also maintaine their auctoritie For among men there is no place for Lawe and iustice where the rulers and princes whom thou hast appointed are not feared Vphold al the states and gouernors of this realme and protect them from destruction in these greuous calamities and miserable disorder of these latter daies Especiallie preserue our Noble Queene and hir godlie Counsaile grant them a long healthful good life that they may deuoutlie serue thee and iustlie doe their office Lighten their minds with the knowledge of thy sacred word that they may deale wisely and be learned which iudge the earth seruing thee in feare and reioicing in trembling Let them embrace discipline and kisse the Sonne the Sauior of the world least happilie he be angrie and they perish in the waie Blesse them O God that they may alwaies hope in thee nourish thy ministers giue reliefe vnto thy Gospel and open their gates that the King of glorie may come in the Lord of power which is mightie in battel Giue them a care of godlines that they may giue their goods to the erecting cherishing of the church and shew themselues Patrones and defenders of the same Make them diligent in rooting out superstition and in promoting thy Kingdome in maintaining the puritie of doctrine in remoouing al offences and finallie in wyping awaie al filthines which both defile thy religion and deface thy glory that the commers after vs haue none occasion of transgressing Blesse them with sober counsaile wisedome industrie and courage of minde Giue them good successe in al their enterprises prosper their doings Let them consider that they are placed to defend the good and innocent and with seuere punishment to correct the wicked and rebellious so shal wickednes be taken from among vs and the publike state remaine in safetie to the preseruation of mankind and continuance both of common Christian peace to the glorie of thy sacred Maiestie and the commoditie of their subiects to the rooting out of ignorance and error and to the furtherance of good artes honest trades and liberal studies And forasmuch as the harts of Kings Queenes and of al men are in thine handes so that thou canst turne them at thy pleasure we beseech thee almightie and merciful God that it would please thee to turne from crueltie to clemencie the minds of al Tyrans and vnmerciful Princes that they mooue not war against thee rashlie wherby the course of thy diuine worde may be hindered worldlie substance wickedlie consumed and their subiects polled vnreasonably deuoured But giue vnto al in auctoritie quiet harts desirous of christian concord that they may remember they are the ministers of God to maintaine his glorie to keepe their people from iniurie and oppression and beare the sword to take vengance on them which doe euil on the behalfe of god For they rule not for their owne cause but for the publike welfare neither may they doe what they list but are bound to seeke the profit of their subiectes and to set forth the glorie of God. Let them not therefore abuse their auctoritie power but grant them grace to remember continuallie that they are mortal men whose Lord is in heauen which respecteth no person and afore whose iudgment seat they must al appeare and giue an account vnto thee the true and righteous God iudge both of the quicke and dead which raignest and rulest for euermore Amen 6. A praier for Subiects O Most merciful God at
8. Euening praier on Mondaie O ALMIGHTIE and merciful God thou hast made the Moone for certaine seasons the Sunne which thou hast created knoweth his going downe Thou makest darknes and it is night wherin men betake them to rest cease from their worke and recreate their wearied members through sleepe Thou art the God forming light and creating darknes Therefore in the euening we wil praise thee and going to bed wil giue thee thanks because thou hast kept vs this daie of thine onelie mercie without any merit of ours from al danger and hurt When we are in troble we cal vpon thee and in the euening wil we remember thy mercie and truth which thou hast shewed vnto vs abundantlie Our eies preuent the night watches to meditate vpon thy wonderful things and our studies shal be alwaies of the excellencie of thy Name For thou hast sent from heauen and deliuered vs and hast brought them to shame that troade vpon vs O God thou hast sent thy mercie and truth and taken our soules from the mids of them which compassed vs about Therefore we wil sacrifice freelie vnto thee and praise thy most glorious Name For thou hast deliuered vs from al troble and our eies haue seene our desire vpon our enimies O Lorde God of our saluation daie and night doe we crie before thee when our eies are trobled through griefe and bitternes of our soules we poure out our teares before thee and in this place we humblie beseech thee couer and put out al our offences that as the Sunne of this daie is now downe and hidden so thou woldest also hide al our iniquities and drowne al our offences in the bottom of the sea that they neuer be seene with eies nor come forth into iudgement O our God we blush and are ashamed to lift vp our eies vnto thee For we are not worthie to lift vp our eies vnto Heauen because our sinnes are mo than the heares of our head Our offences haue taken such hold on vs that we are vnable to looke vp We haue sinned O Lord we haue sinned and haue committed iniquitie yea we haue rebelled and departed from thy precepts from thy iudgements We haue not obeied thy seruants which spake in thy Name to our Kings to our Princes and to our Fathers and to al the people of the lande O Lord righteousnes belongeth vnto thee but vnto vs open shame and confusion O Lord thou art iust and al thy works and al thy waies are mercie and truth thou iudgest truelie and rightlie for euer Remember vs and looke vpon vs according to the multitude of thy mercies neither punish vs for our sinnes nor remember our offences nor our forefathers which haue not obeied thy commandements We faint in our mourning we wil cause our bed to swim and water our coutch with teares Our eies be trobled through the griefe of our wickednes and our faces be withered O Lord God of hosts heare our praier O God our protector behold and looke vpon the face of Christ thine onelie begotten Sonne making intercession for vs and winke at our offences Hide thy face from our sinnes blot out al our iniquities Create in vs cleane harts O God and renue right spirits within vs Cast vs not away from thy presence take not thine holie spirit frō vs Restore to vs the ioie of thy saluation and stablish vs with thy free Spirit that we may doe al things according to thy wil and serue thee alwaies with a willing minde O Christ King of glorie we beseech thee blessed Lorde defend vs this night let our rest be in thee graunt vs thy grace that neither much sleepe ouerwhelme vs nor Satan inuade vs nor the flesh betraie vs vnto him and make vs giltie in thy sight Let our eies sleepe but let our harts wake cause thy right hand to protect such as trust in thee O Lord lighten our eies that we slepe not in death that Satan hurt vs not and our enimie saie I haue preuailed against them Watch ouer vs O eternal Sauior least the subtil tempter ouertake vs and we sleepe a perpetual sleepe and wake no more For thou art made our euerlasting helper Keepe vs as the apple of thine eie hide vs vnder the shadowe of thy wings O Lorde that neither ouglie visions nor horrible dreames nor sightes and monsterous apparitions troble vs in the darke In thy Name O sweete Iesu wil we go to bed and giue sleepe to our eies and slomber to our eie lids compasse vs about and raise vs againe to the ioieful sight of tomorrow light and after this miserable life bring vs to the beholding of eternal happines that in thy light we may see light and euermore praise thee raigning worlds without ende Amen 1. On Tuesdaie Morning praier O Almightie euerliuing true merciful God eternal Father of our Lord Iesu Christ which together with thy Sonne and the holie Ghost hast created the frame of this worlde withal things therin conteined and preseruest the same as yet according to thy free pleasure al creatures without ceassing euermore should extol and praise thee that doe euen the very fowles of the aire which earelie in the morning among the thick branches of trees and from the mids of rocks giuing out their sound and flieng about in the aire with most pleasant tunes doe magnifie thee the eternal God Lord and Creator of al things And therfore we men also earelie in the morning shold praise thee for thy benefits and euermore extol thy mercie with diuine commendations Thou hast preserued vs this night passed and from our cradles to this present houre hast thou kept vs safe Thou hast caused vs to come from sleepe and darkenes vnto the light of this daie and from our beds through thy benignitie we doe arise in safetie Hadst not thou O Lorde bin present with vs and watched vs the insatiable crueltie of Satan had deuoured vs Hadst not thou kept our houses and vs the keeper of the Citie had watched in vaine If the Lorde had not bin on our side when men rose vp against vs they had then swallowed vs vp quicke when their wrath was kindled against vs then had the waters of troble drowned vs and the streame of miseries had gone ouer our soules yea the swelling merciles waters had gone ouer our soules Blessed be the Lorde which hath not giuen vs a praie for their teeth Our soules are escaped euen as a bird out of the snare of the foulers the snare is broken and we are deliuered Our helpe is in the Name of the Lorde which hath made both heauen and earth Now harken therefore vnto our words O Lorde marke our crie vnderstand the voice of our praier our King and our god For vnto thee Lorde
thou we beseech thee an iron piller vnto vs that such as are our enimies preuaile not against vs and be thou a brazen wal betweene vs and al our aduersaries that they come not nie vs to our hurt Giue vs this night a good sleepe that quietlie without cares and anguish of minde we may rest this night let not troblesome dreames and fantasies in which is vanitie disquiet vs Let our sleepe be sweet helthful to our bodies that waking in the morning we may rise in good helth and delight in thee our God. Grant also that both being in bed a sleepe and awake we may alwaies remember our death which is a passage to an immortal life and withal our ioieful resurrection to euerlasting glorie Amen 1. Morning praier on Thursdaie O Christ which art the light and the daie dwelling in the light that no man can attaine vnto the brightnes and cleerenes of the eternal Father the bright morning Star driuing away the darcknes of night and bringing the light of the daie ouer the face of the earth We wil blesse thee in our life time and lift vp our hands in thy Name with thankesgiuing because thou hast bin our defender Thou hast beheld our miseries and hast not put vs into the handes of our enimies which did whisper against vs imagine euil toward vs they spake euil of vs that when we slepe we might rise no more But thou O Lord tookedst compassion vpon vs and didst raise vs againe thou didst aide vs with thine arme of strength and defend vs against al our enimies and their inuasions with thy mightie power Vnder the shadow of thy wings we rested quietlie in thy lap we laie secure and safe We slept and toke our rest and yet rose againe For the Lord defended vs and was our aide God is in the mids of vs therefore we wil not be mooued God wil helpe vs and that right earelie that we may reioice in his saluatiō O thou onelie begotten Sonne of God which sittest at the right hand of God thine almightie Father we most humblie beseech thee by thy glorious ascention into the heauens wherby thou didst pierce the thick cloudes that thou mightest put away our iniquities like a cloude wype away our sinnes wherby thou which art the Sonne of righteousnes art hidden that neither our soules can behold thee neither our praiers ascende vnto thee like a myst Let thy light shine ouer vs this daie like the cleere daie star piercing the thick mystes to the expelling of the darknes of our vnderstanding For thou art the true light lightning euerie man that commeth into this world Clarifie our harts and driue away the darknes of error and ignorance that as at the breaking of the daie darkenes doth vanish so al the darknes of our mindes may be remoued that we continue not in the dongeon and shadow of death but may approch to thy word as to a candle shining in a darke place vntil the daie dawne and thou the day star arise in our harts Let thy worke appere to thy seruants and thy magnificence towards the sonnes of men The glorious maiestie of the Lorde be vpon vs and prosper the workes of our hands vpon vs O prosper the works of our hands Let vs not forgetting thy commandements decline from them either to the right hand or to the left but make vs to meditate vpon them rising out of our beds bind them for a signe vpon our hands and tie them to our fingers write them on the table of our harts that the memorie of them at no time depart out of our minds O Lorde we haue called vpon thee daie by daie we haue stretched out our hands vnto thee In our troble doe we lift vp our hands vnto thee O Lorde beseeching thee most humbly to kepe vs this daie and al our life time from the place of hel and to deliuer vs from the clawes of the vngodlie O Lord be merciful vnto vs we haue longed for thee be thou our helpe and shield our saluation in the time of troble Send downe thine hand from aboue and deliuer vs Stretch forth thine arme with power strengthen thine hand lift vp thy right hand to saue vs. Arise now O Lorde put forth thine hand forget not the poore Breake thou the power of the vngodlie and malitious that we without feare of danger may confesse and praise thee Though we walke in the middes of troble yet wilt thou refresh vs against the furiousnes of our enimies wilt thou stretch forth thine hand and thy right hand shal saue vs that al may knowe and vnderstand that this is thine hand and that thou hast saued vs. Therefore we wil praise the Lord which stood at the right hand of the poore to saue his soule from the persecutors O most mightie protector keepe vs likewise from al bodilie harme Deliuer vs from the myre that we perish not deliuer vs from such as hate vs and from the deepe waters that the fluds ouerwhelme vs not neither the deepe swalow vs vp protect vs with thine hand that we perish not by thy firie darts Thou God rulest the virtues of the elements which thou hast created and guidest the raging of the sea For thou art the God which framest the mountaines makest the winds and declarest vnto man what his thought is thou makest the morning and darknes and walkest vpon the hie places of the earth the Lord God of Hostes is thy Name worlds without ende Amen 2. A thankesgiuing vnto God for our foode WE thanke thee King of glorie Lord of heauen earth because thou hast from our youth to this present houre maruelouslie nourished vs giuing vs meat drinke and clothing with al other thinges pertaining to the sustentation of this our life Naked and bare came we out of our mothers wombes we brought nothing into the world but whatsoeuer we haue thou gauest the same yea it was afore we were borne and in our mothers wombe didst thou ordaine things necessarie for this life and sufferest vs to enioie al things abundantlie Alwaie thou hast a care of vs as a father hath of his children neither art thou ignorant that we stand in neede continuallie of thy blessings and dailie are destitute of new reliefe al which thou giuest after thy wonted and vnspeakable goodnes We acknowledge that whatsoeuer we haue or possesse it is thy gift confesse thee to be the fountaine of al good things and perceiue thy Fatherlie goodnes to be spread not onelie ouer al mankind but also ouer the brute creatures Thou giuest meat to al flesh thou giuest fodder to the Cattel and feedest the yong rauens that cal vp-vpon thee For corporal goodes are not distributed among men by chance or without thy prouidence neither be they
and strong and righteous and merciful which art onelie a gratious King onelie liberal onelie iust almightie and euerlasting which deliuerest vs from al trobles both by daie and night which hast made vs thy chosen through the blood of thy Sonne our Lorde and Sauior Christ which was shed for vs and hast sanctified vs by thy Spirit giuen into our hartes that wee should be a chosen generation a roial priesthood to offer acceptable sacrifices vnto thee Receiue now the sacrifice of praise from our mouthes for thy benefites conferred vpon vs. We thanke thee O eternal God not onlie for keeping vs this night passed but also for defending vs this whole weeke yea and al our life time from the snares of wicked spirits that they could not circumuent and ouerthrow vs. We wil praise thee O Lord with our whole hart we wil speake of al thy maruelous works we wil be glad and reioice in thee Our songs wil we make of thy Name O thou most Hie which exaltest vs from the gates of death that we may declare al thy praises in the portes of thy Churches we wil exceedinglie reioice in thy saluation Blessed be the Lorde God of Israel because he hath visited and redeemed his people And hath raised vp an horne of saluation vnto vs and deliuered vs from our enimies and from the hande of al that hate vs He hath bin merciful vnto vs in lightening those which sat in darknes and in the shadow of death to direct our feete into the waie of peace To thee doe we offer the sacrifice of praise that is the frute of lips confessing thy Name Our mouthes shal praise thee O Lord and our tongues declare thy righteousnes Lo we wil not refraine our lips O Lord that thou knowest yea we wil lift vp our hands vnto thy sanctuarie and with our feete wil we hasten towards thine house and in thy Congregation we wil praise thee We wil magnifie thee O God our King and will blesse thy Name for euer and euer Euerie daie wil we giue thankes vnto thee and praise thy Name perpetuallie For great art thou O Lord and maruelous worthie to be praised there is none ende of thy greatnes Al generations shal extol thy workes and speake of thy power they shal talke of thy worship glorie praise and wonderous workes and we wil declare thy mightines The memorial of thine abundant kindnes shal be shewed and men shal sing of thy righteousnes The Lord is gratious and merciful long suffering and of great goodnes The Lord is louing vnto euerie man and his mercie is ouer al his works Al thy works praise thee O Lord and thy Saints giue thanks vnto thee from one generation to another O God earelie now this morning doe we cal for thine vnspeakeable mercie beseeching thee from the bottome of our hart that this morning thou wilt lighten our minds so that the shining brightnes of thy knowledge may rise in vs which are called out of darknes into the maruelous light of thy glorie that being awaked out of sleepe we may giue our selues to the works of light and walke honestlie as in the daie not in rioting and dronkennes neither in chambering and wantonnes neither in strife and enuieng For we beleeuers are the children of light and of the daie not of night and of darknes Therefore giue vs grace that we sleepe not as others doe but make vs to watch and be sober putting on the brest-plate of faith and charitie and for an helmet to take the hope of saluation For thou God hast not ordeined vs to wrath but to obteine saluation through our Lorde Iesus Christ which died for vs. Giue vs grace likewise we beseech thee that we abuse not this daie and other thy creatures vnto vanitie neither giue our members as instruments vnto sinne by doing such deedes as fight against the soule wounde the conscience and greeue the same Succour vs gratious God that painefullie we may shunne and auoide sixe things which thou doest hate yea seauen which thy soule doth abhor to wit a proude looke a lieng tong hands that shed innocent blood an hart that goeth about wicked imaginations feete that be swift in running to mischiefe a false witnes which bringeth forth lies and him that soweth discord among brethren O Lord God of our saluation into thine hands wil we deliuer our harts that earelie they may watch to thee our maker and in thy sight wil we praie that thou maist protect vs in the daie of troble In sixe calamities deliuer vs O Lord and in the seuenth let none euil come to vs in famine saue vs from death in battel frō the power of the sworde hide vs from the scourge of the tong when destruction commeth let vs not feare in dearth make vs merie and let not the beasts of the earth apale our courage Grant this O Father for thy deere Sonne our Sauior Christs sake Amen 2. A thankesgiuing to God for his mercies O Most holie Trinitie which art the true eternal Vnitie of equal glorie and maiesty we worship thee we praise thee we thanke thee for al thy benefits as it is truelie meete iust and good for vs alwaies to giue thanks vnto thee O Lord most holie eternal God and Almightie Father through Christ our Lorde by whom Angels praise thee Kings adore thee and powers doe feare thee the heauens and heauen of heauens yea the blessed Seraphins with ioie together doe magnifie thee saieng with humble confession Holie Holie Holie Lord God of Sabaorh the whole earth is ful of thy glorie Especiallie at this time O Father most Hie we thanke thee for thy mercie abunding toward vs which of thy great loue wherewith thou louedst vs yea when we were dead through sinne didst quicken vs together with Christ and being raised with him hast made vs to sit together in heauenlie things thereby to shew to al ages hereafter the exceeding riches of thy grace in thy kindnes toward vs through Iesus christ For by grace are we saued through faith and that not of our selues it is the gift of God not of workes least anie man should boast Besides thou hast by thine holie Spirit sealed and prepared vs vnto good workes which thou didst before ordeine that we might walke in them and please thee in newe obedience We wil declare the goodnes of the Lord yea and praise the Lord for al that he hath giuen vs. Great is thy mercie O Lord and thy goodnes incomparable toward vs. Who shal be able to expresse thy workes or who can seeke out the grounde of thy noble actes who shal declare the power of thy greatnes or take vpon him to tel out thy mercie which is such and so
and heresies ouerflowe Wherefore wel may I say as did Nestor vnto his children Praie for vnles that God helpe vs we al perish Furthermore our couenant made with God at our Baptisme whereby we promised to forsake the Diuel al his workes c. to beleeue al the articles of the Christian faith and to keepe Gods holie wil and commandement c. shoulde driue vs therevnto For neither can Satan be resisted nor our faith manifested nor GOD duelie honored without praier Finallie omitting al other reasons which are infinite the shortnes of our life the suddaines of Christes comming his seuerenes in iudgement when he is come should make vs not slightlie to ouerpasse this noble exercise For what auaileth it though in this worlde we abounde in wealth excel in honor haue al thinges according to our harts desire and then when Christ shal returne we are founde vnreadie and so lose our soules Happie therefore is that seruant whome the Lorde at his comming shal find watchfull and happie are those Virgins which expect the bridegroome with oyle in their lamps But that euil seruant which shal saie in his hart my Lorde wil long be a comming and so begin to smite his fellowes yea and to eate and drinke with the dronken his Lord wil come in a daie when he looketh not for him and in an houre when he is not aware of and shal hew him in peeces and giue him his portion with hypocrites there shal be weeping and gnashing of teeth and those virgins which are careles and secure accompanie not the bridegroome to his wedding but are excluded out of the gates and heare I knowe yee not The waightines of these reasons Honorable haue especialie mooued me through the earnest request of some which for their godlie zeale I loue vnfainedly and reuerence did greatlie prick me forwarde to bring these diuine Meditations I cal them diuine partlie because they are of diuine matters concerne the glorie of God partlie for that they procede from a diuine spirit but in this respect chiefly because they are wholy as fewe or no other praier Booke is that I knowe taken out of the pure fountaines of the diuine Scriptures of the right learned and vertuous of famous memorie Maister Iohn Auenar into our English tongue A booke certes most necessarie in respect of the extreeme securitie wherein we liue Gratefullie it hath bin accepted hetherto in the Latine and Germane tongues and now by the working of Gods holie spirit shal profite verie much if it be vsed as it should be that is if the vser thereof praie Religiouslie in faith charitablie being voide of rancor and malice zealouslie with an ardent affection of the minde and humbly without pride 1 Faith is necessarie For without faith it is impossible to please God. Therfore onely the faithful doe praie For how can men cal vpon him in whome they haue not beleeued It is sinne whatsoeuer is not done through faith Therefore the praier of infidels is no praier but hypocrisie and a damnable abuse of good words neither can it obtaine any thing at the handes of God according to that of Saint Iames He which wauereth let him not thinke that he can obtaine any thing from God. 2 Charitie is necessarie For we must praie one for another and for our enimies as our Sauior doth counsaile vs saieng When ye stande praieng forgiue if yee haue ought against any man that your Father also which is in Heauen may forgiue you your trespasses c Againe the spirite of God saith Forgiue thy neighbor the hurt that he hath done thee and so shal thy sinnes be forgiuen thee also when thou praiest A man that beareth hatred against another how dare he aske forgiuenes of god He that sheweth no mercie to a man which is like himselfe how dare he aske forgiuenes of his sinnes c. and for al men as may appeare in the first Epistle of Saint Paule vnto Timothie 3 Zeale is necessarie For what is praier without the same but a verie babling and vaine multiplication of words yea there is no praier where this affection is not For praier is a vehement desire of the hart to obtaine something at the hands of god God loketh not vpon the face as man doth but beholdeth the hart neither doth he listen to the sounde of the mouth but to the sighes of the minde After this manner doe Christians praie their affections are bent towardes God they alwaies hunger and thirst after righteousnes 4. Humilitie is necessarie For vpon whome shal my spirite abide saith the Lord but vpon him which is of a lowlie spirite The praier of him which humbleth himselfe goeth through the clowdes Much better is it for a sinner to be humble than for a righteous man to be arrogant as may appeare in the Pharisie Publicane It remaineth now that as the Auctor of this Booke choase for patrone thereof not for any defence that it needed but because others the more willinglie woulde reade and accept the same being dedicated vnto an honorable person gratious in the eies both of the Nobilitie and baser sort the mightie Prince Lorde Augustus Duke of Saxonie c. so mooued thervnto by the singular fame of your honors most virtuous inclination I present the same now translated for what other paines I haue taken I spare vpon good considerations to vtter vnto your honor beseeching you to accept this my doing in good part as my hope is you wil and then I doubt not being graciously receaued of so worthie a person but gratefullie it wil be vsed of the better sort for whose sake I haue published the same God almightie which is the father of lights mercy and consolation from whom euery good gift and euerie perfect gift doth proceede blesse your honor as with accesse of temporall benefits so especially and aboue all with encrease of his heauenlie blessings that long you may liue a godlie Counsailer to our virtuous Queene a profitable member to this Realme of Englande a speciall fauorer of the Church of Christ and a famous aduancer of his truth and glorie to your euerlasting comfort and felicitie Amen At London the tenth of October An. D. 1579. Your honors to commande Thomas Rogers ¶ A Preface of Maister Iohn Auenar Doctor of Diuinitie and Publike Professor of the Hebrue tongue in the Vniuersitie of Witeberge taken out of his Epistle before his Booke of daily Praiers dedicated to the most mightie Prince and Duke Augustus High marshal of the Romane Empire c. THe chosen vessel of God Saint Paule in his former Epistle vnto Timothie doth exhort that first of al deprecations supplications intercessions and giuing of thankes be made for al men For Kings and for al that are in auctoritie that we may leade a quiet and peaceable life in al godlines
those things which delighted our sences and fantasies For by nature we were the sonnes of wrath euen as others But now thou O God which art rich in mercie for thy great kindnes sake wherewith thou louest vs gouerne vs by thine holie Spirit that we neuer forsake the faith which thou hast giuen vs but perseuering in the rase begunne may attaine through thy grace to the saluation of our soules Take awaie from vs that which is deformed by our corrupt nature continue that which thy grace hath wrought within vs that sin raigne not in our mortal bodies neither we obeie it in the vnlawful lustes therof Assist vs with thine aide that being deliuered from sinne we may be the seruants of righteousnes and obeie that doctrine from the hart wherevnto we are brought giuing our members seruants of righteousnes vnto sanctification so shal we serue thee our true GOD here in the kingdome of grace herafter in the kingdome of glorie which liuest with God the Father and the holie Ghost for euermore Amen 8. Euening praier on Tuesdaie BLessed GOD and Father of our Lord Iesu christ of thine abundant great mercie hast thou preserued vs miserable men this daie from the crueltie and tyrannie of Satan and from sondrie perils and calamities Thou hast shewed vs great trobles in our life notwithstanding thou returnedst and diddest reuiue vs tokedst vs out from the depth of the earth Thou hast encreased our honor and returning didst comfort vs. Strangers rose vp against vs and vnto vs. Admonish our soules of miseries to come Euen as thou diddest arme the Patriarches and Prophets by dreames and visions in the night when sleepe came vpon them from dāgers nigh at hand through thine heauenlie oracles so gouerne and preserue vs in sleepe that our soules come not into danger neither fal vpon the sword and pit of perils Defende vs this night from vncleane and troblesome Spirits let not their rushings ragings and misrule disquiet vs Kepe vs good God from sights of Satan from snares and illusions of the Diuel O thou maker of al things according to thy woonted goodnes be thou our watchman and keeper so shal no vaine apparitions and dreames of the night troble vs nor the Diuel disquiet vs. For in the waie of thy iudgements we doe looke for thee O Lord the desire of our soule is to thy Name and to the remembrance of thee With our soules haue we desired thee in the night and with our spirits within vs wil we seeke thee in the morning Our soules waite on the Lord more than the morning watch watcheth for the morning Heare our crie O God giue eare vnto our praier From the endes of the earth we wil crie vnto thee when our harts be opprest bring vs to the hie rock for thou art our hope a strong tower against the face of the enimie We wil dwel in thy tabernacle for euer we shal be protected vnder the couering of thy wings Lengthen our daies and yeres according to thy good pleasure for thy mercie and truth shal keepe vs. O Christ our defender beholde represse our enimies gouerne thy seruants which thou hast bought with thy precious blood be mindful of vs O Lord in this heauie bodie thou which art the defender of the soule be present with vs. To God the Father and to his onelie Sonne with the Spirit the comforter be al praise and glorie for euermore Amen 1. On VVensdaie Morning praier O Almightie and merciful GOD which gauest the people of Israël in charge euerie daie both in the morning and at night to offer vnto thee a burnt offering for a sweete sauor in thine eares that thereby they might glorifie thee and giue thee thankes for the benefite of their protection both night and daie rising this morning we offer vp vnto thee the sacrifice of thankesgiuing We glorifie thee O eternal God for breaking the chaines of the darknes of this night We wil offer vnto thee a sacrifice of praise and cal vpon thy Name We wil praise our God which brought vs out of darknes and the shadowe of death and brake the bonds wherewith we were tied this night he hath deliuered our soules from perils by bringing vs safe and sound to the morning light Wherefore we offer before thee the calues of our lips for a morning sacrifice and with our tongues doe we praise thee O Lord. Our mouthes shal be filled with thy praise and with thy glorie euerie daie Our tongues shal talke of thy righteousnes and saluation euerie daie Our lips shal speake of thy praise and our tongues shal entreate of thy worde Our soules shal be filled as it were with fatnes and with the lips of reioicing shal our mouth extol thee We wil praise thy Name with songs and magnifie thee with thankesgiuing which please thee better than either oxe or calfe that hath hornes and hooues Wherefore let the sacrifice of our mouthes which we offer vnto thee now this morning and the meditations of our hares be grateful in thy sight O Lorde we beseech thee accept the free offerings of our mouth and teach vs thy iudgements that we may doe thy wil according to thy good pleasure Vnto thee O Lorde we wil crie and earelie shal our praiers come before thee In this morning doe we beseech thee by the resurrection of our Lord Iesu Christ thy welbeloued Sonne that as he was raised from the dead by thy glorie so thou wilt raise and lift vs vp this morning that rising out of the filth of sinne and leauing the beds of vnrighteousnes we may put on the newe man which is renued in knowledge after the image of thee which didst create him and giue not ouer our selues to sleepe and snorting Awake now our soules which sleepe rise from the dead Christ wil lighten yee For certes it is hie time that we should arise from sleepe the houre of our watching being nigh and our saluation neerer than when we beleeued The night is passed and the day is at hand Grant therfore merciful God that casting of the works of darknes and putting on the armour of light we may walke honestlie as in the daie not in gluttonie and drunkennes neither in chambering and wantonnes nor in strife and enuieng but may put on our Lord Iesu Christ by true faith and good works which may smel of him that tasting of his sweetenes at no time we may be separated frō him Wherefore we beseech thee O Lord continue thy goodnes toward vs and grant that al our praiers and workes may both begin from thee and ende through thee Vouchsafe O Lord to keepe vs this day without sinne Let thy mercie be vpon vs as we trust in thee O Lord keepe our tongues from euil and our lips that
oile to make the countenance cheereful bread for to strengthen the hart Haue therefore a care O heauenlie Father of the seede other things springing from the earth keepe them both in cold raine ice snow from the beating of winds and iniurie of weather Preserue thē in extreeme heate drines moistnes and such like that they perish not afore their time Roote out the destroier that there be neither mildew nor grashopper neither caterpiller hurting the frute of the earth Keepe vs O Lord in the time of dearth that we perish not for hunger nor be confounded in the perilous time For thou art our GOD Creator which satisfiest the thirstie soule and fillest the hungrie with goodnes which hast saide I wil not faile neither forsake thee wherby being faithful we may say The Lord is with vs therfore we wil not feare what man can do vnto vs. Behold we miserable and great sinners doe confesse our wickednes with groanings and griefe of hart crieng vnto thee which art in heauen Heare our praiers in thy dwelling place and be merciful to thy people which haue sinned against thee and forgiue al our iniquities wherein wee haue transgressed against thee By our sinnes we haue brought al these miseries which hang ouer our heads but blot out al our offences O God after thy manifold mercies take awaie from vs the curse of our ground that the people may praise thee O God yea that al the people may praise thee and the earth bring foorth hir encrease through our Lord Iesu Christ thine onelie sonne which liueth and raigneth with thee in the vnitie of the holie Spirit a God for euermore Amen 5. A praier for sinners O Eternal Father maker gouernor of al the worlde from the bottome of our harts we thanke thee in the Name of our Lord Iesu Christ for that thou hast not vtterlie cast away mankinde hauing fallen from the state of paradise by sinne into euerlasting damnation as thou didst the Diuels but of thine vnspeakeable goodnes through thy secret counsaile wouldest nedes that thy Sonne should take our flesh vpon him be a mediator betweene thee and vs and be sacrificed for our sinnes For thou wilt not the death of a sinner neither art thou delighted in the destruction of the wicked but that he repent and liue Againe thy Sonne came not to cal the righteous but sinners to repentance We beseech thee on the behalfe of al sinners for al in bondage to Satan and for as many as are ouerwhelmed in wickednes grant them grace merciful God that they may escape the snares of the Diuel and acknowledge their offences strike into them a feare of thine indignation and paines of hel that their minds be not darkned and so they become strangers from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them because of the hardnes of their hart that they come not to that passe that they forsake al sorrowing so giue themselues to cōmit wantonnes euen with gredines For they which breake thy precepts wilfullie and haue no feare nor feeling of thy iudgements but runne on securelie pleasing themselues taking pleasure in their impietie whose consciences do soundlie sleepe the feare of thy iudgement being cleane extinguished in them and prostitute themselues to al vncleannes they heape vnto themselues the wrath of God according to their hardnes and harts which cannot repent giue themselues ouer into reprobate mindes to doe those things as be vncomelie being ful of al vnrighteousnes fornication wickednes couetousnes malice ful of enuie of murther of debate of deceipt corrupted in manners whisperers backbyters haters of God dooers of wrong proude boasters inuenters of euil things disobedient to parents without vnderstanding breakers of promises far from al charitable affection yea they giue themselues wholie to the works of the flesh that so forgoing al sense of godlines they may obstinatelie go forward in wickednes to their euerlasting perdition Bring them merciful God to thy truth and giue them grace vnfeinedlie to repent and to escape the snares of Satan wherein they are intangled and deteined at his pleasure Take away stubbornes hardnes of their minde and this damnable securitie that wickednes doe not vtterlie blinde them Bestow vpon them a new hart and put a new spirit within them take away that stonie hart out of their flesh and giue them a fleshie hart and put thy spirit within their brestes Merciful God guide vs with thine holie Spirit that bewailing our sins from the bottome of our harts we may flie to thine vnspeakeable mercie which thou dost promise to as manie as in faith turne vnto thee and laieng away as concerning the conuersation in times past the old man which is corrupt through the deceaueable lustes may be renued in the spirit of our minds and put on the newe man which after God is created in righteousnes and true holines Assist vs O God that putting away lieng we may speake euery one the truth to his neighbor because we are the members one of another and in anger offende not Let him that stoale steale no more but rather let him labor working with his hands the thing which is good that he may giue vnto him which needeth Come into our harts through thy word and by thy Spirit begin a new and holie life stir vp good motions agreeable to thy wil and answering to the rule of thy worde reuealed in the congregation For thou God art rich towards and ouer al that cal vpon thee and repent Yea it is not thy wil that any of the least should perish but that al be saued and come to the knowledge of the truth And for this cause no man be he neuer so wicked ought to despaire For it is a true saieng and by al meanes worthie to be receaued That Christ Iesus came into the worlde to saue sinners and so verie many being somtime notable transgressors haue attained mercie for an example to such as afterwarde shoulde beleeue on him to their euerlasting happines Giue vs therefore O most gentle God peniten 〈…〉 arts that we may throughlie examine our waies and trie them and returne to thee O Lorde lifting vp our harts with our hands vnto thee which art in the heauens We which haue sinned and rebelled with griefe and sorrowe of hart acknowledge al our filthie faults and with a true faith approch to the throne of thy grace trusting in the reconciliation made by thy Sonne our propitiator and raised vp in his faithful and infallible promise we purpose through thine assistance to begin a newe life to the glorie and praise of thy sacred Name Amen 6. A praier for the Sick. O Christ which art the virtue that is made perfect in infirmitie the strength of the weake the saluation
attained by the onelie industrie and power of man. Thou giuest and we gather thou openest thine hande and al liuing creatures are filled with thy blessing For without thee al our endeuors be in vaine and if thou blesse not our labors we do but beate the winde and receiue no profite Great is thy mercie O Lorde which disdainest not to prouide for sinful flesh O Lord our God great are thy wonderous works which thou hast done for vs the which we can not so much as in thought comprehend much lesse in words expresse When we would report and vtter them we founde them moe than we coulde recite But notwithstanding thine infinite benefits cannot be comprehended of man yet wil we not surcesse to set forth thy praise nor hide thy goodnes from the sonnes of men but wil declare it and speake of thy truth from one generation to another Blessed art thou O our God for euer and euer al that is either aboue in the heauens or in earth beneath is thine Al things come from thee and from thine hands we receiue whatsoeuer we possesse And al those things of thy meere mercie without our merits or worthines Therefore we wil magnifie the Lord which doth mightie things in al the corners of the earth which doth nourish vs from our mothers wombes and giueth vs al good things Grant vs likewise quietnes of minde and peace in our time that thy grace may abound towarde vs continue and defende vs while we liue O Almightie and merciful Father by thy breath we toke life the which through thy blessing doth abide in vs In thee we liue moue and haue our being For man liueth not by bread onelie or by his owne wisedome and forecast neither art thou bounde with a fatal chaine of second causes but by thy decree and wil we enioie life al things created at thy beck doe continue while thou thinkest good Giue vs not onelie store of al things to the necessitie of our life but grant also to our meate drink virtue and power to relieue and strengthen our bodies For thou alone vpholdest al thinges by thy worde of power Vnles thou dailie didst feede vs with thy hidden grace which thou dost enspire into the bread to feede vs al the heapes of our yeerelie encrese were to smal purpose For be it that there be abundance of wheat wine and of al other things yet vnles they be watred by thy blessing quicklie would al come to naught and we shoulde perish for lacke of foode in al that abundance For al the substance which we possesse what is it without thou prosper and fructifie the same with thy blessing And albeit we feede on bread yet we ascribe not our life to the virtue of the bread neither is thy power tied to the bread nor mans life included within the same but altogether it dependeth vpon thy wil and good pleasure We besech thee for thy most large and bountiful liberalitie cast vs not of in the time of our old age and when our strength faileth vs forsake vs not Likewise confirme our faith that we distrust not thy promises neither be we driuen from thee by any meanes seeme they neuer so contrarie to natural causes but giue grace that we may withdrawe our eies from al wordlie consultations and as touching our foode and other necessaries for this life may wholie depend vpon thee and at no time go beyond the limits which thou hast prescribed through our Lord Iesu Christ which liueth and raigneth with thee for euermore Amen 3. A praier for vni tie in Religion O Eternal God which hast called vs to the vnitie of the true catholike faith and gathered vs by thy word into the lap of the Christian congregation that we may be al of vs one bodie and one spirit euen as we are called in one hope of our calling One Lord one faith one baptisme one God and Father of al which is aboue al and through al and in vs al. For euen as thou Father art in thy Sonne and he in thee so should we also be one in thee our God. And therefore we crie vnto thee O almightie Father and eternal God teach vs thy waies that we may walke in thy truth O knit our harts vnto thee that we may feare thy Name Grant that al thy faithful may be like affected and of one minde as thou art thinking the same thing after the ensample of Christ our Sauior and that as wel in minds as with mouth we may agree among our selues both in true doctrine and in outwarde behauior of conuersation For the scope of the Churches felicitie consisteth in the vnitie of true faith and religion Keepe vs in the true vnderstanding and right knowledge of thy sacred scriptures that without strife and contention we may speake one thing Let there be no dissentions nor schismes among vs let nothing be done through contention or of vaine glorie but let vs be one bodie endued with one minde and iudgement according to thy worde reuealed vntil we attaine to the vnitie of faith and knowledge of thy Sonne into a perfect man according to the measure of the age of the fulnes of Christ which is the head by whom the whole bodie being copled and knit together by euerie ioint for the furniture therof according to the effectual power which is in the measure of euerie part receiueth encrease of the bodie vnto the edifieng of it selfe in loue O most holie Father keepe vs by thy Name that we may be one in thee and that among vs which are beleeuers there may be one hart and one minde O Christ our onelie Sauior and Mediator which before thy passion didst praie that we might be one in thee euen as thou art in thy Father grant that thy Church may be at concorde and agree in one true faith and confession Let there continue among vs a godlie consent let there be one agreement in faith one mind in praier that we may grow vp in thee and that al our harts may be copled together by the bond of the Spirit vsing thy gifts as they should be to the aduancement of thy glorie and to the common profit both of thy Church and Common-weale and walking worthie our calling whervnto we are called with al humilitie gentlenes with al lenitie forbearing one another through charitie being careful to keepe the vnitie of the Spirit in the bonde of peace Represse the furiousnes of Satan which soweth discention among thy flock to weaken our faith and to hinder our praiers whereby thy glorie is defaced Grant therefore that we proue not desirous of vaine glorie prouoking one another and enuieng one another that we bite not one another to our destruction For of emulation spring contentions which being once enflamed boile out into mortal diuisions And as many as maintaine emulations
people We wil neuer forget thy benefits and woonderous works which thou hast done for vs To thee O God the Father be thanks for al things in the name of our Lorde Iesus Christ. Secondlie we thinke it our bounden dutie to praie for our benefactors that haue begot brought vp taught and promoted vs that it woulde please thee to repaie them and al other for whom I am bounde to praie whose necessities are knowen to thee These I commende to thy mercie in our praiers that thou maist blesse them both with temporal and euerlasting rewards O celestial God and most excellent recompencer thou hast power and mercie to render to euerie one according to their workes Do wel O Lorde vnto those that be good and true of hart Vouchsafe to reward al our benefactors let them receiue most plentiful benefits according to the multitude of thy mercies Shewe mercie vnto them O Lord that haue comforted vs and so blesse their families that they may finde mercie with thy Sonne our Lord and Sauior Christ at that daie when we shal al appeere before his tribunal seate to giue an accompt of our works O Sonne of the liuing God which dost ascribe and impute the same to be done vnto thee which is extended vnto any of thy seruants and dost promise a most liberal reward euen for a cup of cold water requite according to thy woonted goodnes euerie one which haue extended the works of mercie and the duties of humanitie vpon vs that they may be blessed and enriched mightilie with the encrease of good things He which hath consideration of the poore and needie let him be deliuered O Lord in the euil daie Keepe him giue him life make him blessed in the land and giue him not vp to the wil of his enimies but comfort him when he lieth sick in his bed and in the daie of troble heare his praiers Let his almes be alwaie in thy sight and be mindful of him for euer that when he falleth he may be vpholden Grant Lord that according to our habilities we may recompence benefits receiued and shewe our selues grateful in deede that our leaues wither not neither that we So that al things as it were ouerburdened and wearied doe grone and trauel in paine together with thine elect and desire a deliuerance from such and so great euils whervnto they are subiect and made to serue to vanitie at the lust of the wicked Vnto thee doe we crie from the bottome of our harts Segregate vs O Lord from the darknes decept and filthines of this world and withdrawe vs from the desire of earthlie things that being incorporated into thy congregation where thy Diuinitie doth abide we may seeke after heauenlie things and forsake earthlie which are fraile and transitorie O righteous Father the worlde doth not knowe thee but thy Sonne doth know thee and they to whom thy Sonne doth reueale thee by thine holie Spirit Giue vs the same thy Spirit that we may know what riches we haue receiued by Christ and speake not the things which mans wisedome doth teach but which thy Spirit shal teach comparing spiritual things with spiritual Keepe vs in the confession of thy Name that thou in vs maist be glorified and that we fauor not of terrene and wordlie things but dwelling in minde in heauen may seeke those things that are aboue and be made partakers of the diuine nature and flie from the corruption which is in the world least in this miserable and dronken state therof we enwrap our selues in worldlie cares which withdraw our minds from the exercise of godlines and choake the good motions of the holie Spirit Grant therefore that we loue neither the world nor the things in the world but vsing this world we may be as those which vse it not For the forme of this world doth passe awaie Rule thou our harts that we giue not our selues to the pleasures of this world neither enter into the broade waie and wide gate which bringeth to eternal destruction but shunning al the enticements of this world may go in at the narrow gate to the kingdome of heauen O Christ our Redeemer which hast chosen and seuered vs from this world that not imitating the same we might be saued giue grace that al which haue promised wholie to serue thee which dost ouerthrow the prince of this world may be safe from al the assaults of the subtile spirit For it were a shameful and traitorous deed to promise wholie to be thy seruants and yet to fauor thy mortal enimie and to followe his workes But he that warreth laboreth to please him which hath chosen him to be a soldior Guide vs that we follow not the vading glorie of this world neither delite therein For he which wil fauor the world is an enimie to god But let the world be crucified to vs and we to the world through the denial of our selues and renouncing al the enticements of the same Grant vs grace that we may walke wiselie and circumspectlie in this present world not as fooles and vnwise but as wise and shun al occasions of falling and redeeme the time because the daies are euil O God the holie Ghost poure into vs thine heauenlie wisdom which is from aboue that in spiritual matters we may cast off altogether the wisdome of the world which is foolishnes with God in the simplicitie of mind cleaue vnto thy word Instruct vs that hauing renounced vngodlines we may walke vprightlie and godlie in this worlde looking for that blessed hope and appearing of the glorie of the great God and of our Sauior Iesus Christ which gaue himselfe for vs to redeeme vs from al iniquitie and to make vs a pure peculiar people vnto himselfe zelous of good works Comfort our minds that our harts be not trobled when the worlde doth persecute vs For we are counted no better than the verie excrements and ofâ—couring of this world And therefore make vs pacientlie to beare not onelie euerie miserie incident to al men but also the peruerse and sinister iudgement of the world the which also thou didst suffer for our sakes Vphold vs in the mids of our afflictions that both the world and the prince thereof may wel knowe that thou hast a tender care ouer thy poore flock wilt protect and saue the same euerlastinglie Amen 8. Euening praier on Thursdaie WE thanke thee King of heauen earth for protecting vs this daie by thy strong hand stretched out arme from al perils The right hande of the Lorde bringeth mightie things to passe the right hand of the Lord hath exalted vs the right hand of the Lord doth great things it hath kept vs from al euil the Lord hath saued our soules Therefore we wil be mindful of thee O Lord vpon our beds and
waking wil we meditate of thy goodnes because thou hast bin our helper vnder the shadow of thy wings wil we reioice Our soules cleaue vnto thee because thy right hand hath vpholden vs and saued vs in our extremities We wil be mindful of the time past wherein thou maruelouslie didst assist vs and meditate of al thy deedes We wil discourse of the workes of thine hands and wil neuer forget thy mightines For thy mercie endureth for euer thou wilt not despise the workmanship of thine owne hands Now blesse the Lord al his seruants which stand in the house of the Lord in the courts of the house of our GOD in the night lift vp your hands to his sanctuarie and blesse the lord The Lorde which made both heauen and earth blesse vs from aboue Vnto thee O Lorde doe we lift vp our hands and beseech thee with al humblenes of minde pardon al our sinnes which this daie we haue committed either against thee or our neighbors Our handes are defiled with blood and our fingers with much iniquitie Our transgressions are afore thee and make answere against vs. But doe not thou Lorde beholde the wickednes of thy people but remember thy couenant which thou hast made with vs in the blood of thy Sonne neither consider thou our wicked enterprises but haue in mind that thy testimonies are pure among vs and thy worde vndefiled Thinke not vpon those that haue walked fainedlie before thee but remember them which according to thy wil doe feare thee Neither doe thou destroie them which haue liued beastly looke vpon them that not onelie teach but obserue thy commandements Take thou none indignatiō at them which are worse than beasts but loue them alwaies that put their trust in thy righteousnes and glorie For we and our Fathers haue al the same sicknes but because of vs sinners thou shalt be called merciful For if thou hast mercie on vs thou shalt be called merciful to vs that haue no works of righteousnes And therefore be thou merciful vnto vs O Lord for thy Name sake and pardon al our transgressions whereby most infinitelie we haue deserued thine euerlasting displeasure Let thine hand be readie to saue vs that we may prefer thy commandements aboue al things and fulfil them with our fingers O Lord in our troble doe we seeke thee our hands in this night season are lifted vp to thee Neither shal anie thing be in cause but that in this darke and dreadful night thou shalt lighten and illustrate euerie darke corner of our habitation that our candels go not out by night When we sit in darknes bring vs into the light saue vs from vtter darknes where is weeping and gnashing of teeth Thou art the God which giuest light to our candle lighten therefore our darknes O our God that we sleepe not in death And protect vs by the shadow of thine hand that none euil stick to vs this night Deliuer vs from the snare of the hunter and from the noisome pestilence Defende vs vnder thy wings and vnder thy feathers we shal be safe Let thy truth compasse vs like a shield that we be not afraid for any terror by night nor yet either for the pestilence that walketh in darknes or for the sicknes that destroieth at noone daie A thousande shal fal beside vs and ten thousand on our right hand but it shal not come nigh vs. O Lorde deliuer vs out of the hands of our enimies and saue vs from such as persecute our soules they imagine wickednes in their chambers they sleepe not except they haue done mischiefe and sleepe is taken from them vntil they haue done harme O Lord keepe vs O Lord be thou our defence ouer our right hande that the sun parch vs not by day nor the moone by night The Lord is our light and our saluation whom then should wee feare The Lord is the strength of our life of whom then should we be afraide Though an host of men were laide against vs yet shal not our harts be afraid and though the wicked should rise vp against vs to deuour our flesh yet it shal be our comfort alwaie that thou wilt hide vs in thy tabernacle in the euil day and defende vs in the secret place of thy dwelling through Christ our Lord Amen 1. On Friedaie Morning praier BLessed is the Lord God of Sabbaoth which by his commandement created the morning and assigned to the daie spring his place where arising euery daie it apprehendeth the wings of the earth and speedilie runneth to the vttermost parts of the world Who is like our God which doth woonderous things both in heauen and earth O Lord heauen is thy seat and the earth is thy footestoole Vnto thee doe we bend our selues yeelding most humble thankes for that it hath pleased thee of thy wonted goodnes to preserue vs this night vnder thy merciful protectiō Of thy clemencie hast thou deliuered our soules from the mids of Lions among whom we laie with thy shielde of saluation hast thou compassed vs about like as a shepherd watcheth and looketh to his flock Wherefore we wil sing of thy power and praise thy mercie betimes in the morning For thou hast bin our defence and refuge in the daie of our troble We beseech thee euen for the bloodie sweate of thy Sonne our Lord and Sauior Christ that thou wouldest vouchsafe this morning to moisten and mollifie our harts through the grace of thine holie Spirit As the morning dew spreading it selfe earelie before daie doth wet and fil the earth and as the morning raine by drops doth water drie places wherby they do fructifie and bring forth herbes and grasse so extende thy grace toward vs and by thine heauenlie dewe besprinkle our hard and drie harts that we may wholie delight in the waies of thy righteousnes walke in the pathes of thy commandements Let thy liuing Spirit guide vs forth into the land of righteousnes O Lorde for thy Name sake quicken vs in thy righteousnes that thy word may be a lanterne vnto our feete and a light vnto our steps Shew vs thy waies O Lord and teach vs thy pathes Order our steps according to thy word so shal no wickednes haue dominion ouer vs neither shal we wander from the right waie Take from vs the waie of lieng and grant vs graciouslie thy lawe O would to God our waies were directed to the keeping of thy statutes that we might not walke in the counsel of the wicked nor stand in the waie of sinners nor sit in the seate of the scorneful but delight in the lawe of the Lorde and exercise our selues therein daie and night then should we be as a tree planted by the riuers of waters that bringeth forth
thee in the crosse and praier is then most effectual when it is exercised in affliction For the minde vtterlie destitute of al other helpe of second causes wherevnto it woulde easilie cleaue then doth open it selfe before thee and wholie dependeth vpon thee not trusting in it selfe but altogether in thee O God which raisest the dead to life and so our faith is founde more precious than any gold that perisheth to the praise and glorie of thy Name Finallie it behooueth vs at the length to be conformed like the bodie of Christ in his passion that suffering with him we may also raigne together with him as his felowe heires For vnles we be wearie of this life we shal not easelie aspire to our celestial countrie For which cause it is thy wil that by many tribulations we must enter into the kingdome of heauen Wherefore we beseech thee giue vs godlie minds that we wonder not when we are tried by the fire as though a strange thing did happen vnto vs but rather let vs reioice that we are partakers of the afflictions of Christ that when his glorie appeareth we may be merie and glad Assist vs that through patience we may runne to the battel that is before vs looking vnto Iesus the Captaine and finisher of our faith who for the ioie that was set before him endured the most shameful crosse Let vs beare in minde that he endured such speaking against him of sinners that we should not be weried and faint in our minds but strengthened with al might through thy glorious power vnto al patience and suffering to continue vnmooueable in al tentations neuer casting awaie our confidence which hath a great recompence appointed For we haue neede of patience that after we haue done the wil of God we may receiue the promise For yet a litle while and he that shal come wil come and wil not tarie O blessed God and Father of our Lorde Iesu Christ which art the Father of mercie and God of al consolation comfort vs in al our afflictions that as the afflictions of Christ doe abound with vs so with al by him our consolation may abounde Amen 5. A praier for women with child and in childbed O Most wise God eternal Father of thy beloued sonne our Lord and Sauior Christ Creator and keeper of al thy creatures which through thine excellent wisedome counsaile hast enioined to womankind that in paine and sorow they should bring forth children whereby not onelie this world is replenished but a Church which doth celebrate thy Name for euer is gathered vnto thee And forasmuch as the paine of a woman in trauel is most extreeme which makes the Prophets many times to repeate the same in exaggerating the afflictions of punishment which the holie Spirit doth threaten vnto the impenitent We beseech thee in the Name of Christ thy Sonne be merciful vnto al women either with child or in childbed giue them grace to cal into minde the decree and pleasure of thine heauenlie wil let them neuer striue against thee through impatience but in true faith and inuocation of thy Name suffer thy crosse quietlie knowing that by the seede of the woman which hath broken the old serpents head they are reconciled vnto thee In this seede which is Christ the curse is cleane taken awaie and blessing restored to vs that we may receiue the promise of the Spirit and the inheritance of eternal life O Almightie God conuert now the sorowes of women in trauel into gladnes that they remember not their paines with mourning for ioie that a man childe is borne into the world Comfort them in the middes of their anguish and helpe aswel the mother as the babe especialie in the danger of deliuerance If thou blessed God be not present they perish vndoubtedlie al the worlde cannot helpe them in that extremitie O eternal God which of the seed of man framest the liuing infant in the mothers wombe and nourishest the same congealed in blood that the flesh within the time of ten monethes may take shape drawing nourishment from the mother we are al the workmanship of thine handes We giue thee thankes Lord for fearefullie wonderfullie are we made maruelous are thy workes and that our soules knowe right wel Our bones are not hid from thee though we were secretlie made neither our substance in the inner parts of our mothers wombe Thine eies did see our substance being vnperfect and in thy booke were al our members written Thy hands haue made vs and facioned vs altogether with skin and bones hast thou couered vs and ioined vs together with bones and sinewes thou hast giuen vs life and grace and thy visitation hath preserued our spirits Grant we beseech thee to al infants yet vnborne that knit together with their due vaines and members they may come forth into this worlde sounde and perfect without fault or deformitie Staie the furiousnes of wicked spirits that they shewe not their tyrannie vpon yong infants Keepe al with child that no waie being terrefied or trobled extreemelie they be vntimelie deliuered Giue grace also to the babes newlie borne that together with their outward baptisme they may be receiued into the congregation of the faithful with wholesome water through the renuing and regeneration of the holie Spirit which thou wilt plenteouslie poure vpon them through Iesus Christ our Sauior that being iustified by grace they may be made heires according to the hope of eternal life and become new creatures through him Strengthen al women deliuered that being restored to their woonted health they may glorifie thee their helper in the time of neede learne afterward to repose their whole confidence in thee which art nigh vnto al that cal vpon thee to al we saie calling vpon thee in truth And if at any time through thine vnsearchable iudgement an vntimelie birth or if without offending thy godhead we may saie vnluckie deliuerance happen so comfort O merciful GOD the mourneful sad parents that they faint not with sorow but beleeue rather that the woful chance is a trial of their faith hope and patience For thou art a merciful and gratious God forgiuing our sinnes Though thou art angrie with our wickednes yet in thy displeasure thou remembrest thy mercie that the trobled may take comfort and the afflicted finde grace For thus doe al thy seruants perswade themselues that if they be tried they shal be crowned if they be trobled they shal be deliuered and if they be chastened they shal be saued For thou hast no pleasure in our damnation which bringest faire weather after stormes and gladnes after teares Thy Name O Lord be praised for euer Amen 6. A praier for captiues O Lorde our gouernor thou hast prepared thy seate in the heauens thy kingdome is an
infinite that it can neither be augmented nor diminished For looke how hie the Heauen is in comparison of the earth so great is thy mercie also towardes them which feare thee And as far as the East is from the West so far hast thou set our sinnes from vs. For as a Father pittieth his owne children euen so art thou merciful to al which feare thee Yea though a Mother doe forget hir infant and take no pittie on the sonne of hir wombe yet wilt not thou forget vs for we are written vpon thine hands The mercie of the Lord is vnchangeable infinite and neuer faileth but dailie ariseth newe and fresh vpon vs. The merciful goodnes of the Lord endureth for euer and euer vpon them which feare him his righteousnes vpon childers children such as keepe his couenants and thinke vpon his commandements to doe them Thy mercie is on such as feare thee from generation to generation The mercie that a man hath reacheth vnto his neighbor but the mercie of the Lorde is vpon al flesh chastening and teaching and nurturing yea euen as a shepheard turneth againe his flock so doth he al them which receiue chastening nurture and doctrine Merciful art thou vnto al them which receiue correction and diligentlie seeke after thy iudgements And although for a while thou forsakest vs yet afterward in much fauor wilt thou gather vs together In the time of thy wrath thou hidest thy face from vs for a little season but for al that thy mercie towarde vs is euerlasting Blessed be thy Name O God of our Fathers which when thou art angrie shewest mercie and in the time of troble forgiuest the sinnes of them which cal vpon thee This thy goodnes and ouerabounding mercie which hath bin from the beginning and for euer shal continue ouer al which vnfainedlie repent neuer languishing or failing but abiding perfect alwaies in the highest degree we wil praise and confesse from one generation to another For gratious and merciful is the Lord patient and long suffering bent to shew fauor and meruelouslie gentle towards al that cal vpon him Praise the Lord al ye heathen and glorifie him al nations For his merciful kindnes is euer more and more toward vs. We wil not keepe back thy louing mercie and truth from the great congregation withdraw not thou thy mercies from vs O Lorde let thy kindnes and truth alwaie preserue vs. O let thy merciful kindnes be our comfort according to thy worde vnto thy seruants O deale with thy seruants according to thy great mercie and teach vs thy statutes that in like maner we may be merciful toward al men without respect of persons or hope of gaine willinglie without morositie that in thy iudgement we may finde mercie through the passion and death of thy sonne Iesus Christ which liueth raigneth with thee in the vnitie of the holie Spirit a God worlds without ende Amen 3. A praier for an happie departure out of this worlde O Most gratious God thy yeares endure throughout al generations thy daies are without ende or beginning but the daies of man surelie are determined which he can not ouerpasse and the nomber of his moneths are knowen to thee thou hast appointed him his bounds which he cannot go beyonde Thou hast nombred our daies which vade awaie sodainelie like the grasse For we are soone dispatched and easelie consume Our daies are like a shadowe and wither awaie like grasse A man in this world is euen like a vapor that vanisheth awaie For al flesh is grasse and al the glorie thereof as the flower of the fielde which florisheth in the morning and afterwarde withereth and vadeth Behold our daies are to be measured they are as it were a spanne long and our age is nothing in respect of thee And verilie euerie man liuing is altogether vanitie Our age is folden together and taken awaie from vs like a shepherdes cotage our life is cut of by our sinnes like the thred of the weauer which is sodainlie broke of Wâ— are but strangers in this woâ—â—de and soiourners as were our fathers our daies on the earth also are but as a shadow and we are as nothing in respect of thee Our life speedilie goeth awaie like the weauers shuttle and it abideth not Wherefore Lord let vs know our end and the number of our daies that we may be certified how long we haue to liue and what is yet to come Instruct vs O Lord that being alwaies mindful of our mortalitie we neuer promise to our selues manie yeeres nor long liues in this pilgrimage of ours so shal we not liue securelie deferring our conuersion to thee from daie to daie nor yet put confidence in this fraile and vncertaine life as did that rich man saieng Soule thou hast much good laid vp in store for manie yeeres take thine ease eate drinke and be merie Whose soule notwithstanding was taken from him the same night But giue grace that in thy feare we may dailie prepare oâ— selues to depart out of this prison for nothing is more certaine than death though nothing more vncertaine than the houre thereof Therefore let vs haue alwaies before our eies an image and meditation of our departure the better to know the fleeting and vanitie of this combersome and vncertaine life that we may liue to thee our God being sounde in faith and strong in hope loking with cherefulnes for the daie of our departure the ioiful appearing of thy Sonne Iesus Christ our Redeeemer and as long as we abide in this tabernacle of our bodies with al studie ministering to our faith virtue to virtue knowledge to knowledge temperance to temperance patience to patience godlines vntil this tabernacle being laid awaie we shal passe ouer to our dwelling place not made with hande but euerlasting in the heauens where we shal be clothed with eternal glorie immortalitie when this earthlie house is put of and destroied Grant also that trusting firmelie to thy promises we may be readie and glad to returne to our euerlasting and celestial country for while we are in this bodie we wander froÌ„ thee our God for now we walke in faith not in the enioieng and possession of eternal goodes wherfore whether we be at home or from home let vs endeuor our selues to be acceptable in thy sight Make vs faithful and wise seruants alwaies loking for the comming of our Lord for we know not when he wil come at the euening or at midnight whether at the cock crowing or in the dawning least by a suddaine houre of death being ouertaken and as it were caught in the foulers trap we be found vnreadie but contrariwise by prudent watching in true conuersion and repentance may continuallie couet to be dissolued and to be with
Christ our Redeemer Grant also that at the point of death hauing escaped al hardnes and tentations we may triumph like conquerours and beholde the presence and power of thine holie Spirit let our last words be that which thy Sonne did vtter vpon the altar of the Crosse saieng Father into thine hands I commende my spirit when our speech is taken from vs heare O God the groanings of our harts And the houre of death being come let thy seruants depart in peace because our eies haue seene thy saluation which thou hast prepared before the face of al people a light to be reuealed vnto the Gentiles and the glorie of thy people Israël through our Lorde Iesus Christ Amen 4. A praier for the nourishment of this life OMnipotent and eternal Father which hast giuen to thy Church certaine promises of corporal things we thy children crie vnto thee for our dailie bread and else what pertaining to the sustentation of our mortal bodies Make our fieldes fertile that the seede sowen may come vp and our ground yeelde vs a ioieful haruest Prosper thou the labors of al artificers and let their doings take good successe Blesse Lorde the workes of our hands our heardes of cattel and flocks of sheepe that they may prosper and encrease and we feele no barennes desolation nor decaie Sende thy blessing into our barnes and storehouses For it is the blessing of God that maketh rich and causeth plentie Except the Lord build the house their labour is but lost that build it It is but vaine for vs to rise earlie and late to take rest eating the bread of sorowe For thou Lord giuest to thy beloued sleepe they wake they much plentie al kind of happines Make vs therfore bountiful God to loase our nets in thy Name and to doe the works of our calling earnestlie with inuocation of thy diuine assistance that by thy blessing we may haue good successe Protect al waifaring men and trauelers either sailing by seas to far countries or iorneieng by land for our common welfare that they may safelie returne home againe Take thou the defence of Merchants with their goods and riches so shal they be secure from al misfortune Dispose their minds and wits that in their trafike they may deale without fraude couen and abuse of thy Name measuring al things according to the rule of iustice and therby reteine a good conscience Make them to loue virtue to keepe promise to obserue couenants that no man oppresse or circumuent his brother for God is the reuenger of al such Grant also to al buiers of villages houses lande yokes of oxen that for the loue and desire of earthlie riches and filthie lucre they forget not the kingdome of God and so make excuse that they cannot come to thy great and heauenlie supper wherevnto al men are called by the Gospel Let them not delight in wrong doing and roberie If riches encrease let not their harts be set vpon them but afore al thinge prouide for themselues the treasure hid in the field and the pretious iewel of thy celestial kingdome To al workemen and laborers grant that they be faithful in their busines make them also strong aswel in bodie as in iudgement Giue vs good seruants vpright gouernors an happie state of Commonweale a wholesome temperature of aire health peace discipline c. Keepe our mindes from couetousnes which is the roote of al euil least being bewitched therewithal we swarue from the faith and wrap our selues in manie sorrowes But gouerne vs by thy Spirit that al our care may be cast vpon thee our Father and we be content with dailie bread Blesse vs moreouer that we abuse not thy temporal benefits neither glut our selues with meate drinke to the ouercoming of our harts by surfetting and dronkennes but may vse thy blessings moderately to our comfort Giue patience to the poore that they neither murmur against thy wil and their condition neither enuie their betters and so offend thee and breake thy commandements Let not rich men be either high minded or confident in vncertaine riches but in thee the liuing God which giuest to vs abundantly al things to enioie that they doe good and be rich in good workes that they be readie to giue glad to distribute and laieng vp in store for themselues a good foundation against the time to come that they may obteine eternal life Two things we doe require of thee our God denie them not before we die Remoue from vs vanitie and lies giue vs neither pouertie nor riches onlie grant vs things necessarie for this life least peraduenture being ful we should denie thee and saie Who is God or being oppressed with pouertie we fal to stealing and take the Name of thee our God in vaine Amen 5. A praier for the afflicted and such as suffer persecution O Christ eternal God which hast commanded vs to denie our selues and dailie to take vp our crosse follow thee our capitaine and maister in much patience For it cannot be auoided but that al which desire to liue godlie in thee our Lorde must suffer persecution And wee cannot be thy seruants and soldiers vnles wee can abide the persecution of the greater part of mankinde For Satan wil neuer surcesse from arming his villains with furiousnes against thy members And it falleth out commonlie in this licentious wickednes of the world that the godlie euen through the zeale of righteousnes doe purchase to themselues the hatred of the wicked Especiallie it is incident vnto Christians to be abhorred of the maior part of mankinde For flesh in no case can awaie with the preaching of the Gospel and none welsuffer the reprehension of their vices Hence arise persecutions for the destruction of the godlie whereby in no place they can be safe and secure but their endes are sought by al kindes of crueltie Wherfore we beseech thee on the behalfe of al persecuted for righteousnes sake against whom despiteful words are vsed lies inuented and for as manie as for thy Name sake are detained in prison fettered attainted before counsels whipped brought afore Kings and Princes to be tormented with exquisite and diuers punishments for the confession of true religion for such as are exiled from their natiue soiles banished spoiled of their goods abhorred of the world tried by torments racked hanged vpon forkes vpon wheeles killed by swords like sheepe for the slaughter murthered and throwen out to be deuoured of the rauenous and cruel beasts for thy Gospels sake Al these assist and laie to thine hande for our strengthening the glorie and Spirit of God may rest vpon vs by whose consolation we may suffer al trobles and by an inuincible courage get the victorie in al these and neuer fal from the hope of our saluation Grant therefore that we may haue
the testimonie of a good conscience knowing that we are punished vndeseruedlie not as murtherers or theeues or euil doers or busiebodies in other mens matters And suffering as Christians let vs not be ashamed but glorifie God on that behalfe Giue vs grace to account it for exceeding ioie when we fal into diuers tentations and afflictions and to glorie therein For affliction bringeth forth patience patience experience experience hope and hope maketh not ashamed And let their example which before vs did suffer the like in their bodies be a comfort vnto vs For so did the vngodlie persecute the Prophets which were before vs. And especiallie thy steps which are left to be followed are aboue al to be allowed of For thou diddest saie The seruant is not greater than his maister if they haue persecuted me they wil persecute you also Finallie giue grace that respecting the vnspeakable reward which of thine onelie mercie thou diddest promise to al which perseuer vnto the ende by thine assistance we may ouercome al the greeuousnes of affliction For blessed dost thou pronounce them which suffer persecution for righteousnes sake for theirs is the kingdome of heauen that when they are prooued they may receiue the crowne of life which thou hast promised to such as loue thee Wherefore indue al in affliction with thy fortitude from aboue that with a bolde and stoute courage they may reioice that they are counted worthie to suffer shame and al kindes of affliction for thy Name Make them constant in the true confession that through the consideration of cruel punishment they depart not from the faith and forsake the profession of true religion Likewise shew forth thine omnipotencie with thy mightie hand deliuer them from the power of Tyrans from the mouthes of Lions and violence of fire And as concerning such whose bodilie deliuerance were not best but are fittest for martyrdome those strengthen in the middes of paine that they feare not such as kil the bodie but cannot kil the soule that being afflicted according to thy wil they may commit the keeping of their soules to thee with wel doing as vnto a faithful Creator and so though they leese as may seeme their soules in this world yet shal they find them safe and blessed in another life which is eternal where thou liuest and raignest with the Father in the vnitie of the holie Spirit a God for euermore Amen 6. A praier for Widowes and Orphanes O Most merciful and faithful God father of orphanes iudge of widowes Looke downe from heauen thou which considerest our labor and sorow and in whose hands al our saluation doth consist The poore is left vnto thee for thou art the helper of the fatherles The Lord doth heare the desire of the poore thou preparest their harts and thine eare harkeneth thervnto to helpe the fatherles and widowe vnto their right that the man of the earth be no more exalted against the miserable We beseech thee O most righteous auenger haue thou a consideration of al widowes and orphanes and prouide for them by ministring clothes nourishment vnto them haue pittie on them in al their perils and necessities stretch out thine helping hande and deliuer them as thou didest that widowe whose pitcher of oile by the Prophet Elias thou didest so encrease with thy blessing that not onlie she deliuered hir children in bondage for debt out of the hands of hir creditors but also of the oile she sold had wherewith to sustaine both hir selfe and hir children For thou art the Lord which carest for strangers and relieuest the fatherles and widowes but destroiest the waies of the vngodlie Thou art touched with a care of the afflicted and despisest not the desires of the fatherles nor the widow when she poureth out hir praiers before thee For the teares running downe the cheekes of the widow ascend vp into the heauens and hir crie against him which wringes it out Grant therefore merciful God that in the sight of al gouernors and iudges they may find fauor and haue equal iudges and patrones of their matters that the iudgement of the stranger and fatherles be not peruerted nor the cause of the widow neglected but that iudgement may be sought according to thy lawe the oppressed holpen iudgement giuen for the orphane and the widowe defended For thou hast giuen a straight commandement vnto al iudges saieng Keepe equitie and righteousnes deliuer the oppressed from the power of the oppressor doe not grieue nor oppresse the stranger the fatherles nor the widowe and shed none innocent blood For thou art the God which wil auenge thine elect that crie vnto thee thou keepest truth for euer and euer doing iustice to the oppressed with wrong Now deliuer O Lord the fatherles and widowes out of the pawes of rauening theeues which eate vp the houses of widowes vnder the pretence of godlines and colour of right Deliuer them out of the hands of wicked iudges which faine and inuent lawes to suppresse the poore and to hurt the cause of the base among the people that widowes may be a praie for them and that they mayâ—rob the fatherles such peruerse iudges O God in the daie of their visitation and calamitie from a far thou wilt vtterlie destroy Appoint vnto orphanes and widowes faithful patrones which wil be touched with an earnest care of their welfare Also giue vs willing mindes to pleasure widowes and fatherles children according to our habilitie to deliuer the poore when he crieth and the fatherles which hath none to helpe to helpe him that is readie to fal to comfort the widowes hurt euermore to be as fathers to the fatherles and from our tender yeares to minister instruction to the widowe and suffer them neuer to perish but in blessing to blesse them and to fil them with bread For pure religion and vndefiled before thee O God our Father is to visit the fatherles widowes in their aduersitie and to keepe our selues vnspotted of the world For he which is merciful towards the orphane as a father sheweth himselfe as an husband towards his mother in taking the defence of their cause vpon him he shal be as an obedient sonne of the Hiest and thou God wilt more fauor him than a mother can pittie hir sonne But they which despise the sight and teares of the widowe keepe back their loafe that the fatherles eate not thereof and suffer them to perish for want of clothing and apparel yea which lift vp their hands to afflict them shal greuouslie be punished their shoulders shal fal from their ioints and their armes be broken from the bones of them O merciful God extende thy fauor vpon al widowes that at al times and in al afflictions they may trust in thee the liuing God and continue
in supplications praiers night and daie being diligent in al good works not occupied in pleasures neither wanton idle wandering from house to house no tatlers nor busiebodies no speakers of things vncomelie nor giuers of occasion whereby thy worde may be blasphemed Keepe al parents that they being taken awaie either by war or vntimelie death their wiues be not widowes their sonnes orphanes running here and there a begging be thou their helper euen for Christ his sake our Lord and Sauior Amen 7. A praier against desperation O Most merciful God greatlie haue we sinned and alas are guiltie of manifolde crimes For this cause diuerslie is our conscience clogged so that we are wonderfullie agast beholding such bloodie wounds of our soules And albeit thy Gospel dailie doth offer vnto vs in good sooth forgiuenes of our sinnes through thy meere grace yet our faith is maruelouslie weake by reason of the infirmitie of our flesh and dailie batterings of Satan which by craft endeuoureth to plucke vs from al hope and consolation Therefore vnto thee doe we crie O most holie Father and eternal God keepe vs in thy Name that in tentations and extremities â–ª we neuer faint in courage Moderate and mitigate our vexations let them come to a ioieful ende that we fal not into the most heinous sinne of incredulitie and despaire Comfort vs that in the middes of death we may trust in thee the God of our life and righteousnes Let vs neuer despaire of thy mercie grace nor thinke with Cain that blasphemous cursed wretch that our sinnes are mo than may be forgiuen O staie vs Lord according to thy word and we shal be safe Let vs alwaies beleue that where sinne aboundeth grace doth more abounde and as sinne hath raigned vnto death so that grace doth raigne through righteousnes vnto eternal life by Iesus Christ our Lord. O Christ Sauior of the world and most gratious God whose mercie commeth vpon vs like a streame art the eternal Orator which both outwardlie talkest to mankinde by thy Gospel and inwardlie in our harts inflamest thy light which is true confession faith and comfort in thee we beseech thee from the bottome of our harts encreâ—â— faith establish hope 〈…〉 then patience within vs. For this certainelie is tru 〈…〉 one little drop of thy most 〈…〉 blood shed for vs is of more power to saue vs than al our enormous manifold sinnes to condemne vs. Wherfore looke back vpon vs O Sauior with thine eies of mercie as thou lookedst back vpon Peter in the hal of the hie Priests house after he had both renounced thee and cursed himselfe least through diffidence we fal from thy grace as Iudas the traitor did which hoong himselfe and afterward brake in the middes whereby al his bowels gushed out and so commit the like offence and sinne against the holie Ghost O God the holie Ghost be thou present with vs at our extreeme neede when the Diuels wil accuse vs and our conscience beare witnes against vs when the cogitations of hel and death wil daunt vs when we shal be enuironed with horrible dangers and tentations when the whole world wil forsake vs and al 〈…〉 ings set themselues against vs 〈…〉 n our harts O comforta 〈…〉 at that time with the seale 〈…〉 stimonie that vndoubtedlie 〈…〉 n beleeue the forgiuenes of sinnes the resurrection of the flesh and euerlasting life which shal be giuen without faile to vs and to al beleeuers O blessed Trinitie and eternal God of one essence giue grace that in euerie combate and especiallie at the point of death being mindful of thy couenant made with vs at our christening and of thy most comfortable promise annexed He which beleeueth and is baptised shal be saued we may neuer doubt either of thy merciful goodwil toward vs or of the free remission of our sinnes but by often remembring this signe and couenant may dailie more and more be confirmed in faith and hope of perpetual happines and applie thy benefits which certainelie thou hast promised faithfullie wilt performe vnto our selues For thy promises made to such as beleeue trust on thee be not vaine and to no purpose Likewise vpholde our soules by the Sacrament of thy Supper that strengthened with the seale of this newe testament wee may be the more certaine and confirmed touching our reconciliation and euerlasting righteousnes and alwaies beare it fixed in our minds For if the testament of a man which is proued after the death of the testator be not smal accounted of much more should the last testament and holie sacrament of our Sauior Christ remaine pure in continual force and remembrance O blessed Trinitie and eternal Vnitie lift vp our sorowful harts and poure vpon vs the wholesome comfort of heauenlie blisse at the point of death refresh vs with the sweete sight of thy cheereful countenance that with exceeding ioie we may desire to depart to come into thine heauenlie house where thou liuest and raignest a God for euermore Amen 8. Euening praier on Saturdaie WE wil coÌ„fesse thee O Lord King and praise thee O God our Sauior we giue thankes vnto thy Name For thou art our defender and helper and hast preserued our bodies from destruction and from the snares of the slanderous tongues and from the lips that are occupied with lies Thou hast bin our helper from such as stoode vp against vs and deliuered vs after the multitude of thy mercies and for thine holie Name sake from the roaring of theÌ„ which were readie to deuour vs out of the hands of such as sought after our liues and from the manifold afflictions which we had from the deepe of hel from an vncleane tong from lieng words from false accusations and from vnrighteous sentence Our soules shal praise the Lorde vnto the death For our liues drew nigh vnto hel downeward Euils enuironed vs on euerie side and there was no man to helpe vs We looked about if there were any man to succour vs but there was none Then thought we vpon thy mercie O Lorde and vpon thine actes that thou euer hast done of old For thou deliuerest al which put their trust in thee and riddest them out of the handes of their enimies Then wee lifted vp our praiers from the earth and praied for deliuerance from death We called vpon the Lord the father of our Lord that he would not leaue vs without helpe in the daie of our truble and in the time of the proude We wil praise thy Name continuallie yeelding honor and thanks vnto the same For our praiers were heard and thou hast saued vs from destruction and from al euil Therefore we wil acknowledge and praise thee we wil magnifie thy Name for keeping vs from our youth vntil this present weeke and for protecting vs alwaies of thy gratious mercie Righteous
thy seruant to rule and gouerne this thy people committed vnto my charge Now therefore gratious Lord fauor ablic beholde me that I may treade the path of truth righteousnes and synceritie of hart in thy sight Let me not abuse mine auctoritie but gouerne with lenitie gentlenes the people vnder me that liuing a godlie and honest life mankind may enioy their desired peace Giue therefore vnto thy seruant an hart desirous of instructions that I may iudge the people descerne betweene good and euil and neither declining to the right hand or to the left stoutlie and valiantlie maintaine the cause of the righteous Grant me counsel and assistance to doe such things as are grateful vnto thee good for thy Church and profitable for my people and Commonweale Giue me thy wisedome and reiect me not from thy children For I thy seruant and sonne of thine handmaide am a fraile man of a short time and ful weake in the vnderstanding of iudgement and the lawes Thou hast chosen me a gouernor of thy people and a iudge of thy sonnes and daughters sende me therefore wisedome from thy sacred heauens and from the seate of thy magnificence that it may be with me and labor with me whereby I may perceiue what is acceptable in thine eies and learne that I haue no power of my selfe but from thee which art almightie raignest ouer the kingdomes of men giuing them at thy pleasure Grant that I neuer conceaue proudlie of my selfe but may receiue in patience the discipline of thy Lawe Make mee wise and circumspect that I neither offer ▪ iniurie to anie man neither suffer anie to be iniuried that so equitie may be maintained and iustice among men preserued Let me at no time vnder the shewe and color of equitie vphold or countenance a wicked cause neither yet without sufficient examination and trial of both parties giue sentence against anie Allowe me such counselers gouernors and ouerseers as are of courage fearing God dealing vprightlie hating couetousnes that by them the burden charge and care which I sustaine may be somewhat lightened Endue both me and them with thine holie Spirit that with earnest studie and watchful minds we may discerne betwene matters that no man through our negligence haue the ouerthrow in a righteous cause but that sentence be rightlie pronounced betweene a man and his brother and a stranger without respect of anie person in iudgement Let vs heare aswel the litle as the great and feare no man Because the iudgement is thine which standest in the companie of iudges and among the Gods thou plaiest the iudge For the iudgement is not of man but of the Lord and whatsoeuer we shal iudge it wil come vpon vs. Wherefore let thy feare be with vs that we may doe al things with care and circumspection that we proue not children in vnderstanding neither giue our selues to dronkennes and bellicheere but to eate our meate in due season and that for strength not for dronkennes For thou wilt make earnest and diligent enquirie of al our workes and search al our cogitations because we are thy seruants and deputies to gouerne men of a very short life and he which is to daie a King to morow may be dead For we be al mortal and subiect to one and the same corruption Besides an horrible iudgement is nigh for such as walke not after the wil of thee our god For he that is most low shal finde mercie but the mightie shal be mightilie tormented For thou which art the Lord ouer al regardest not the person of anie neither doest thou feare the greatnes of the mightie Because aswel the great as the smal are the workemanship of thine handes thy care is equal ouer al and giuest to godlie Princes eternal happines which art the Iudge both of the quicke and dead liuing and raigning with thy Sonne in the vnitie of the Spirit a God for euermore Amen A praier of Subiects for their Prince O Almightie God King of Kings and Lord of Lords in thine hande is al power both in heauen and earth thou confirmest kingdomes and againe doest alter them according to thine heauenlie pleasure c. This praier you shal finde afore pag. 7. A praier for a married man. O GOD almightie auctor and institutor of matrimonie which in the copling together of male and female dost offer vnto vs a consideration of the sacred and great mysterie of the marriage of our Lord and Sauior Christ with his spouse the Church and with al expresse the most burning affection of thy sonne towards his beloued Spouse For he offered himselfe vpon the altar of the crosse to sanctifie and clense hir by the washing of water through the word and to make hir glorious for himselfe without spot or wrincle or any such thing For euen as the husband by an inseparable bande of good wil is bound to the wife so that both prosperitie and aduersitie is common to them both so is Christ copled to his Church through suffering vpon his owne flesh the punishmēt which was due vnto hir and by making vs with him felowe heires of eternal ioie by couering our offences So that now there is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Iesu which walke not after the flesh but after the Spirit Whereby we gather that man should loue his wife euen as his owne bodie For no man euer yet hated his owne flesh howsoeuer crooked old weak leane or deformed it be but so much the more carefullie doth hide couer those faults by how much they appeere the more deformed Yea he doth nourish and cherish that weake part euen as Christ doth loue his Church though foule and deformed with sinne which casteth not hir of though she seeme il fauored but healeth hir griefes dissembleth much forgiueth and wypeth awaie hir offences I beseech thee O Father which art neither made nor begotten marrie mee for euer vnto thy Sonne marrie me vnto him in righteousnes iudgement in godlines and mercie marrie me vnto him in faith that I may truelie knowe thee my Lorde and God which wilt not the death of a sinner but rather that he repent and liue O thou onlie begotten Sonne of God ioine me I beseech thee vnto thy bodie that ingraffed in thee I may drawe from thee the iuice of life and of heauenlie wisedome Defende mee and thine whole Church against the rage of Satan the world and the flesh Loue cherish and comfort such as are ingraffed to thy flesh Purge and wash me fro my sinnes filthines and spots through thy great mercie and merits Deck me with thy gifts goodnes Wash me with water purge me with thy blood Annoint me with thine oile of gladnes put vpon me thy roabes of righteousnes and couer me with thy glorious purple