without deiection graue without austeritie pleasant without lightnesse fearefull not despairing true not doubling doing good without presumption admonishing my neighbour without arrogancie edifying him by word and example without dissimulation Giue vnto me Lord God a watchfull heart that no curious cogitation may draw me from thee a noble one that no vnworthy affection may triumph ouer it a sincere one that no euill intention may bend it from thee an inuincible heart that no persecution may glory in his ouerthrow a generous one that no peruerse and violent passion may challenge rule ouer it Bestow on me O Lord an vnderstanding knowing thee a diligence seeking thee a wisedome finding thee a conuersation pleasing to thee a perseuerance faithfully expecting thee a confidence finally embracing thee to be pierced with thy punishments through repentance to vse thy benefits in this way fare by grace and at length by glory to enioy thy ioyes in thy countrey who liuest raignest c. 63. A Prayer for great Personages O Most mighty high and euerliuing God King of all Kings Lord of all Lords the onely gouernour Creatour and aduancer of mankinde which hast pleased to call me to honour and promotion making me a Ruler and directer of thy people Teach me O Lord the way to bee humble in mine owne eyes that I may louingly and courteously entertaine any poore brethren as great and noble in thy sight and bought at as deare a rate as the mightiest Giue me O Lord singlenesse of heart cleannesse of hands truth of tongue meekenes of Spirit that I may in all affayres and businesses of the generall State respect aboue all things thy glory next the weale of the publique and lastly my own peace and content which in the vprightnes of a good conscience make O Lord firme vnto me Take from me I earnestly beseech thee the fire of Ambition lest dallying with vnholy flames I returne to in-glorious Ashes Quench in mee O mercifully louing Father the longing thirst of new Titles and Dignities acknowledging it a blessing aboue any desert of mine to be thy Creature and fearing the charge and burden already imposed vpon me endeuour with all lowlinesse to render thee a iust account Grant that my power may be a shelter not oppression to the weaker and the noblenesse of my birth a continuall remembrancer how to bring forth vertues and actions worthy and beseeming that height and superioritie that in all things squaring the line of my life and ordering all my thoughts actions and endeuours by thy precepts and instructions I may leaue my example as a holy practice to others and die in thy fauour that I may liue eternally with thee world without end 64. A Thanksgiuing for the recouerie of our High and Mighty Soueraigne King IAMES April 1619. I INcline thine eare vnto vs O Lord and mercifully heare our supplications and prayers that we make before thee for hauing speedily and happily deliuered our most gracious King thy humble Seruant redeeming vs in preseruing him from the many troubles and vncertaine dangers which any alteration may bring vpon vs. Keepe him O Lord to thee for vs from the bloudy hand of home-bred Treason which endeuoureth violently to spoile him and saue him by thy mighty power from the ambitious desire of Forraine inuasion which vnlawfully plotteth and goeth about to gripe into their hands the rule and state of this Kingdome ouer which by thy ordinance and eternall prouidence he is made chiefe Lord and Ruler Defend him O merciful and all-louing Father from the Tyrannie of sicknes which seeketh to destroy nature and steale away life from him and what other infirmities the weakenesse of nature want of digestion distemperatenesse of Ayre or any other naturall cause may bring vpon him Be pleased O Lord to ease and cure him by thy all-restoring hand who camest into the world to heale all maner of diseases that wee may perfectly enjoy him in his vertuous gouernment with the blessed fruits and increase of it to thy eternall glory his owne saluation and our comfort peace and tranquillitie euen for Iesus Christ his sake our onely Lord Mediator and Sauiour Amen 65. Another A A Wake vs O Lord from sinne and iniquity that we deserue not thy Scourge and Rod in vntimely depriuing vs of thy faithfull Seruant our most gracious King whom thou hast mercifully placed ouer vs. Giue vs loyall obedient hearts that we may truely and humbly vnder thee loue honour and obey him constantly vnite our selues to him and vnperswadably become his followers and liege Seruants Continue O Lord thy care and fauour to him that he may as hitherto reciprocally tender respect the good and weale of vs his poore vnder-Subiects esteeming vs helping and necessarie members of himselfe profitable to execute and vndergo what he shall in thy feare and Religion charge and command that we striuing and endeuouring to become perfect Imitators and Types of thee and thy Church in vnanimitie and tranquillitie may with one consent labour the setting forth of thy honour and glory with our owne well-doing and eternall happinesse Amen 66. A Prayer against our Enemies M MAke vs O Lord mighty and strong armed in the confidence of thy all-preseruing and powerfull Arme. Stretch it foorth O Lord and scatter our enemies who haue conspired and are combined against vs. Behold mercifull Father the infinite and innumerable troupes they haue gathered and mustered together to spoile and ruine thy people who haue no hope nor trust but in thy mercies Their Armies couer the face of the Land and their Ships haue not Sea enough to weild their huge bodies they glory in the desire and assurednesse of bloud and slaughter and meditate all the day long on Rapine and Crueltie They haue in their thoughts the murdering of Sucklings and Infants and the deflowring of Virgins is euer before their eyes they ioy in representing to themselues the Ransacking the substance of poore mens labours and feeding their Ryots with the sweat of others browes determining to leaue no barbarousnes vnpractised or vn-attempted Smite them O Lord in the height of their pride and bring their mightinesse and strength to nothing Let the Sea O Lord which they haue inhabited ouerthrow their proud buildings and destroy them The Sunne and winde O LORD vndoe and put to flight their Land-Souldiers with tempests and heate that wee thy seruants being deliuered from the feare of our enemies may serue thee all the dayes of our life glorifying and magnifying thy holy name who art the giuer of all victorie Amen 67. Another Prayer for deliuerance from our Enemies E EVermore will I cry vnto thee and all my life long meditate on thy mercies who wilt not suffer the scornefull and proud to preuaile against thy seruants nor the mischieuously-minded to haue the vpper hand ouer them The Enemies O Lord presumptuous and ouer-daring in the strength of men and Chariots haue prouided whips and torments for thy people not seeking vvhich
one another the obedience to thee teach vs obedience in our selues that wholly submitting our selues to thy will we may labour together in this transitorie life to come to thee the life euerlasting with whom dwelleth vnspeakable loue and neuer-ending charitie world without end Amen 40. A Prayer for a Maid to be obedient to her Parents O My most mercifull Lord and Redeemer subdue and bridle my head-strong and vntamed affections who delighting in their owne wayes repine at the direction of my Superiours Let mee euer remember thy holy commandement Honour thy Father and Mother that thy dayes may be long in the land of the liuing Giue me grace to vnderstand it truely lest forgetting thy precept I be banished into that wilde and barbarous Country where to liue is terribler then death and dying the onely comfort of the liuing Let their reprehensions bee the cause of my amendment not repining their iust and lawfull precepts an vndeniable practice of all my actions Let me reuerence their age lending them my youth to help them pray for their imperfections and in them remember humane weaknesse that in my obedience I may receiue the vertue of their blessing which thou alwayes grantest to them that endeuour to fulfill the least of thy commandements 41. A Prayer before a Iourney O Almightie and euerliuing God which by the hand of thy seruāt Moses broughtst the people of Israel out of Egypt and the crueltie of Pharaoh and madest them walke ouer the Red-Sea keeping back with a mighty winde the raging waters who returning in their Furie ouer-whelmed all that great Host and after went'st before them and conducted them thorow the vast and wilde Desert feeding them in their extreme Famine with Manna showred from Heauen Be pleased O mercifull Father at this instant to accompany mee in all my iourneyes and trauailes and with thy louing and mightie protection defend me from all dangers of those that lye in awaite to murther and spoile thy Liege people Bee vnto mee O Lord a guide in my going out a safeguard and defence vpon the way a shaddow in heat a shelter in raine cold a waggon in wearinesse an helper in time of extremitie a stay in slipperie passages a Hauen in shipwracke that vnder thy safe and sure conduct we may march quietly and peaceably to our iourneyes end and vnder the couer of thy wings ioyfully and prosperously returne to our homes againe for his onely sake who was a continuall Pilgrime heere vpon earth to make all our prayers acceptable vnto thee Amen 42. Another short Prayer for the same O Almighty God which hast made this our life as it were a short Pilgrimage to visit holy places and doe penance by thee appointed for mans first transgression giuing vs as in an Inne a space to refresh our wearied bodies not to dwell and settle our selues Grant mercifully thy assistance in these my iourneys and remouings and with thy holy Spirit blesse and comfort me on the way that I be not left alone to the crueltie of those that would assaile mee but hauing thy Angell for my guide and defender I may not feare the oppression of the Wicked but happily arriue at the desired Hauen where I vvill magnifie and praise thy holy name for thy mightie ayde and protection 43. A Prayer in Afflictious WHy art thou sorrowfull my soule and why doest thou trouble mee Why doest thou hang sleepe vpon mine eye-lids and fasten heauinesse on my foot-steps Doth not God regard the prayers of the afflicted or doth he not from his high holy place looke downe to the earth that he might heare the gronings of the fettered and those that are persecuted and afflicted Can thy eye see into heauen or is thy vnderstanding of counsell with God to perceiue how neere his holy hand is to deliuer thee Euery instant is time enough for his Omnipotency and impossible occasions easie to the infinitenes of his Deitie Put thy trust in him my soule and thou shalt not be confounded Say with the Prophet Dauid Though a thousand fall on my right hand and ten thousand on my left yet I will not bee afraid because God hath beene my helper Bee comforted by the mercifull examples which he hath shewed to his people Did not Almighty God with a strong hand punishments enforce the Prophet Ionas to preach destruction to the Niniuites limiting them a short time that within three dayes their Citie should bee destroyed and yet vpon their submission humbling themselues before him with prayers fasting did he not most mercifully remit their punishment and take them into his grace and fauour Fall therefore prostrate before him and with perfect resignation of thy owne will yeeld thy selfe into his hands to do what it please him with thee entreate him of his loue and fauour who neuer absenteth himselfe to those that seeke him relye vpon his mercy who so much loued his people that he sent his onely begotten Sonne to dye for the Redemption of mankinde Aske him forgiuenesse of thy sinnes and offences by reason of whose guilt thou sufferest these light and temporary punishments which haue in iustice deserued euerlasting damnation and disburdened of which the yoke will be easie and the waight light yea thy miseries wil be pleasing like wounds honourably gotten in a glorious conquest and then maist thou ioyfully sing vnto the Lord Mine enemies that troubled me themselues are weakened and falne One thing yet I haue asked of our Lord this will I seeke for that I may dwell in the house of our Lord al the daies of my life 44. A Prayer to be said by a Merchant for the safe returne of his goods IN the time of my trouble who shall I flye vnto what power can fetch me from the bottome of the Sea or whose arme reacheth to the end of the world O most merciful and gracious Lord the Sea is thine and thou madest it and thy hands prepared the dry land with thy Word thou calmest the raging waters and with a beck layest the furie of the winde Grant of thy accustomed clemencie and goodnes such seasonable and temperate weather that they may safely arriue at the appointed Port. Bee vnto them O Lord their Pylote lest the hidden Rocks or vnknowne Sands deuoure them Be their defence and safegard lest their enemies make prey on them that relying on thy fauour aboue the vertue of their Load-stone they may ioyfully and merrily touch the desired Land acknowledging thy goodnesse and might to whom alone that mercilesse element obeyeth at thy command yeelding vp all her treasure Grant this O my sweet Lord and Sauiour euen for thy tender mercy which refuseth no Petitions that are offered with a pure and vnfained zeale Amen 45. A Prayer before Study O Vnspeakable Creatour which in the Treasure of thy Wisedome hast ordained learning as a secondary meanes to raise our declined soules wrapt by the fall of Adam in sinne and ignorance to a perfected and surer
and bee gouerned by thy prouidence accounting whatsoeuer thou pleasest to lay vpon me as a portion left for me by a carefull and louing Father Iesu make me willing to doe good to mine enemies sorry to displease the worst milde in speeches modest in my behauiour constant to my friends and charitable to all Giue mee O Lord a hearty and true sorrow for my sinnes a firme resolution of amendment a constant intent to renew my good purposes a perseuerance to continue them euer and an ardent desire to beginne afresh in thy seruice Grant me O sweet Iesu an vnfained and humble repentance for my former transgressions a hearty and zealous thankefulnesse for thy present kindnesses a terrour of thy iustice a doting on thy fauours and an euer-mindfulnesse of thy glorious presence Blesse O Lord with thy eternall prouidence my going forth and with thy holy assistance guide my comming in that I may walke in thy waies and returne to thy honour and seruice Let vs praise the Father Son and Holy Ghost who hath not forgotten his seruants but giuen them taste of good things recalled them wandring staid them sliding and with vnspeakeable loue brought them to his euerlasting Kingdome A Short Meditation vpon these words of PILATE ECCE HOMO Behold the Man LOoke vp O my soule and if thine eye lids be not pressed down with the two waights of shame and sorrow Behold the Lord of all Maiesty and glorie abased with the disgracefullest behauiour the scorne of the Iewes could lay vpon him Behold that reuerent and beautifull countenance which the Angels adored and God himselfe was well pleased in violently defaced with the vnmercifull strokes of his cruell persecutors his modest Eyes in labour with the bloud which from the riuolets of his head ouer-flowed all his face ioyning with a Sea of bloud which issued in euery place from his tender and delicate bodie What vnused torments were these O my soule What new inuented tyrannies Was euer Innocence so rewarded Vertue so glorified and Goodnesse so exalted But alas as if they would out-goe themselues in tyrannie and study for vnheard off cruelty they couple with these paines the basest and vnmanliest shames and disgraces that euer stories haue left vnto vs. Where is the sacred Balme they apply to thy wounded Bodie The precious oyntment they prouided wherewith to anoint thy bruised face Is that coate of folly and robe of ignominie the medicinable Seare-cloth they wrap thy torne flesh in Is their irreuerent and defiled spittle which they contemptuously throw in thy face the onely remedie they can affoord it With the hemme of thy garment O Lord thou stayedst an issue of bloud and with disroabing thee they open a Floud-gate of thine With thy holy wonder-working spittle thou gauest eyes to the blind and they prophane and vnhallowed Rebels with theirs would take away thy sight Was euer King so entreated by his subiects Was euer Master so abused by his seruants Was euer Father so tormented by his owne children O wicked Subiects disobedient seruants and vndutifull Children What mercie can you expect What freedome require what portion hope for Come hither all yee Kings and Princes of the earth which account the enlarging of your Dominions the onely propagation of your glory the feare and trembling of your subiects the testimonie of your Greatnesse and your vncontrouled and vnlimited command a royaltie onely worthy the Maiestie of a King Looke downe from your stately and gorgeous Thrones and Behold the Man borne a King whose Power and Title so amated Herod enflamed with the ambition of gouernement that onely to auoide his right he gaue command for the cruell slaughter of many thousand Innocents To whom newly brought into the world Kings came to offer bowe down on whom the Starres awaited and the Angels of the great and high God attended like seruants Consider well what Crowne inuironeth his sacred Head what Robe adorneth his Bodie and what Scepter hee beareth in his royall Hand Marke the obedience of his Subiects and suruey the largenesse of his Territories Whurry to this place yee noble and honourable Personages spare no treasure but purchase a standing to Behold the Man You that dwell vpon such nice and respectiue termes of honour who rate a Lye at the price of a Life and a Stroke aboue the value of your Soule carefullier to be accounted valiant then honest and fashionable then Religious who purchase vertues onely to sell away your vices rather forsaking God then your Mistresse Marke well and meditate on the behauiour of this onely honourable and all noble Lord See him buffeted by slaues and vassall-ministers spit on by the rascall company lasht and scourged by inferiour and Vnder-officers patiently and with all humility vndergoing and submitting himselfe to all kinde of scornes and reproches and esteeme not the seruant of more worth then the Lord who hath done all these things both for your redemption and example Thrust in among the Iewes yee common and vnder-people heere is a sight worth gaping after to follow and Behold the Man you that groane vnder the Tyrannie of Pouerty the exactions and cruell oppressions of biting Vsurers and hard Land-lords you who in the shade of your fortunes are left comfortlesse and whom the night of darkenesse and desolation hath suddenly ouer-taken Behold the Son of the euer-liuing God displaying the beames of ioy and consolation and if euer fellowship in misery assawage the rancour of it or company be a comfort glory of so noble and vnmatched a partner who couered with sweate and dust disguised with bloud and torments cloathed with shame and contempt is here made a laughing stocke to the people and since God himselfe so vnworthily submitted himselfe for mans offences Let vs glory and be proud to become his fellow and beare a share with him in all troubles for righteousnesse sake O my Redeemer was the wisedome of thy lips which in thy infancy falling as the melting honey from the Combes astonishing all the great Doctors and Rabbins instructing them in the high and hidden Mysteries of heauen now in thy firmer age thought folly and vaine eloquence Was that modest and beautifull countenance striking feare and reuerence in the beholders one looke whereof raised sinners to bee glorious Saints now buffeted and spit vpon Were thy innocent and spotlesse hands whose mightinesse and vertue loosed the chaines of hell leading captiuitie captiue become prisoners to bondage and fettered with base and seruile cords What part of thee was vnfruitfull and yeelded not comfort and blessings to this vngratefull people Flowed not from thy tongue the riuers of peace and euerlasting happinesse Did not thy eye direct them in the way of saluation Were not thy hands continually held vp and in labour for their pardon and penitencie Who followed thy foot-steps could hee euer goe astray Nay walked they not safe in the shadow of thy bodie from infirmities And did not thy outward garments recouer them of long