wherof may bee the one of you by our most prudent Prince doubtlesse at the secret motion of GOD raysed vnto sutch highnesse in Honour as match with the best inferiour to none I neede seeke for no farther occasions of commendation or auntient titles of worship or honour the siluered heares giuing euident token of the golden wit and the honourable age â–ª of the verteous forepassed life and the many yeres of the blessing of the most highest god On th' other side bewtified with a louing Lady the ofspringe of an excellent race Nice to rightwoorship full Grandsiers daughter to a woorthy Knight Schollar to a learned scholemaister Sister to a right honourable Lady Moother of mutch hoped impes Aunt to a peerelesse couÌ„tesse Wife to a noble Counseller Ladie of a Godly Famely Subiect to a louinge Prince a trewe woorshipper of Almightie god Vnto whose good pleasure for the prolonging and continuance of both your liues in increse of godlie Honour and all other delightes apperteininge whereby the race of this transitorie life may bee made lesse irksome to the bodie or preiudiciall to the soule I am bownden dayly to pray the effect whereof hee graunte who tendreth our iust requestes and is the only giuer of all goodnesse At London this first day of Ianuarie 1574. Your honours euer at commaundment T. Twine FATIS VOLENTIBVS VIRTVTE DVCE No worldly pelfe see thee from God do call Incline thine hart to doo the thyng is iust Confirme thy Faith that thou doo neuer fall Holde fast on GOD in him repose thy trust Obserue thy wayes amende what is a misse Lay vp thy wealth where rust may do no harme Amende thy crimes while vacant time there is Submit thy cause vnto Gods mightie arme Auenge thee not when thou canst well repay Neuer let vices harbour in thine hart Needes vrgent law consider thou alway Eke to the poore doo of thy goodes impart Beware of Pride by Glorie set no price Avvay from giltlesse blood turne backe thy face Consider sutes weigh causes once or twice Open thy mouth on wydowes wofull case Nothing from Praier let thee once disseuer Ensue this lore and thou shalt liue for euer there consisteth life and welfare vnto my sowle and by breatch and violation nothing else but seuere sentence of finall dampnation Therfore I cannot tell most miserable wretch as I am how I shuld presume to approche thée for mercie I dare not shew my selfe beefore thée but if it were possible I would gladly hide my self from thy sight where thou mighst not finde mée out that by sutch meanes I might escape thy dreadfull iudgement Howbeit O Lorde thou art the mightie God to whom all things in heauen and earth are knowne whose eies béeholde what is done in the top of the highest and in the bottome of the deapest places in the world In thy sight Lord the most secret thoughtes of the harte are open and from thée there are no cogitations pretences practises deuises nor the smallest motions of the mind hidden Vnto thée therefore with tremblinge and teares I returne appealing from thy high dread and terryble throne of iust iudgement remoouing my cause to thy most swéete amiable pleasaunt and comfortable court of thy manifold mercies Euen there Lord thou hast layde vp sutch store and abundance of graces pardons forgiuenes of sinnes that they do surmounte the numbre and ouersâ—read the greatnes of al thy wonderfull woorkes Héere then it is O my God that I dare to appeare béefore thy diuine Maiestie a fylthye sinner béefore a mercifull God a very lumpe of wickednes beefore the eternall creator of all thinges of inestimable wisdome that takest mercie vppon our weakenes and infirmitie béecause thou wotest well the stuffe and substaunce wherof thou hast made vs. Béeholde Lord I call vnto mée thy dearelybéeloued sonne my most louing redéemer and sauiour Ihesus Christe to bée myne aduocate according vnto his own fréewil and voluntarie offering in whom and through whom by his most precious blouddeshed vnto thée vpon the acceptable altare of the Crosse in liew of the double death that wée should al haue died for our-most horrible offences Pardon I béeséech thée O god my gréeuous iniquities forgyue mée all my wickednes release my necligences remit mine ignorances abandon the lothsomenes of my sinnes which from my mothers wombe vnto this present day I haue coÌ„mitted or shall do hereafter vnto my liues ende That béeing so clensed and purified from all contagion of sinfull impuritie let mée obtayn a liuely and feruent fayth at thy handes stedfastly to call vpon thée in most hartie prayer Lord in all my necessities aduersities troubles and afflictions confirme my harte that I may put my whole trust and affiance in thy maiestie and séeke none other meanes nor take none other comfort but in reading thy worthy woorde or in recourse to thée in most faithful and effectuall supplications If at any tyme Lorde as is the frailtie of our corruptible nature and the incessant suggestions of Sathan our auncient enemie I féele in my selfe any faintnes or fayling of feruencie in calling continually vppon thée kindle thou then my hart with the heauenly heate of thy holy spirit Graunt mée grace to crie with thy hollie Apostle for encrease of faithe that béeing awaked and stirred vppe through thée I may enioy the effect of my godly desiers which thou hast promised to yelde vnto mée through thy sonne Iesus Christ my sauiour Performe my God that whiche thou hast indented with thy selly seruant who with anguishe of minde séeketh after the comfort of thy face continue in mée the custome to call vpon thée in praier and all the powers of my body shal not cease to sing thy sacred praise Amen J. ¶ If yee beeing euil know to giue your children good giftes how mutch more will your Father which is in heauen giue good thinges to them that aske them ¶ The second Flower IN most hartie hope of thy manyfold mercies and with lowly reuerence O euerlasting God loe thus I draw nighe vnto thée béeing sore laden with th'infinite number of my sinnes trusting in thy fatherly goodnes and entier loue which thou bearest vnto mankinde thou wilte discharge mée of mine vnrighteousnes and wash away al mine infirmities Thy louing kindenes hath ben inestimable which thou hast borne vnto mée since my simple conception in the tender intrailes of my mother within whose body thou didest laye forth the platforme of my body and gauest vnto mée the representatioÌ„ of a man thy bestbéeloued and cumliest creature After this in due maturitie of time according to the established and ordinarie season assigned by thy heauenly wisedome thou broughtest mée foorth into this worlde my first tune giuyng proofe of the vnhappie condicion that I should enioy therin Lorde thou knowest how that so soone as I was deliuered froÌ„ my mothers wombe euen then I béegan my life in féeblenes and sorow and the my thoughte kéepe myne eies from seing it myne eares
to goe a whoorynge with straunge thinges whilst wee seeke after thee as for thee thou art within vs if wée wilbée within thee wee neede not to searche thée far of for thou art with vs in our fayth vntill sutche time as wée deserue that thou maist bee with vs in personall apparance which graunt that I may beeholde For wée know as sayeth the holly Apostle that Christe through faythe dothe dwell within our hartes For why Christe is within our Faith the faith within our minde the minde within our hart the hart within our breast but clense thou them all most gratious God that my bodie may bée made a méete temple for thee to dwell in Thou hast fasshioned mee after thyne owne image conforme mee therefore my God most likely vnto thy similitude in all vertue and hollinesse in desier of peace in contemplation of veritie in loue of charitie let mée euermore retayne thee in memorie carie thée in my conscience holde thee in my harte and honour thee as present Heare mee O God in thy goodnesse turne not thy mercifull eare from my sorowfull crie O let the vncleanesse of my soule bee purified the darckenesse of my minde lightned the warmenesse of my harte heatened the coldenesse of my conscience warmed and the sleepinesse of my bodie wakened and I my self by all meanes prepared that I may bée thy seruant to doo thy heauenly pleasure as I am alreadie the woorke of thy cunninge fingers Amen A ¶ A man that beareth hatred against another how dare hee desier forgiuenesse of God forgiue then thy neighbour the hurt that hee hath doone thee and so shall thy sinnes bee forgiuen thee also when thou praiest ¶ The .xiiij. Flower ADuaunce thyself O Lorde in thine eternall power and draw thée néere to deliuer mee from the snares of the Deuill that haue intrapped mée and throwne mée almost vnto the grownd I haue bin plunged a longe time in the sea of sensualitie and I perceaue my deliuerāce cometh only from thée wherfore deliuer mée O Lorde of my saluation Thy power is aboue all powers thou hast made althynges subiect vnto thée for through thée Death hath no stinge nor Hell hath victorie eternall thankes bée vnto God who in our good Lorde and sauiour Iesus Christe hath giuen vnto vs a noble cōquest euer our enemies for which while I liue I wil giue most woorthy prayse as it best béeseemeth Henceforward looke thou carefully vnto the course of my life and holde fast my harte alwayes in thy feare that I bée not founde vnwoorthy of thy moste bountifull benefittes encrease in mée a care to continue in thy commaundements erecte a feruent faith and assured hope of thy promises and mercie within the tendre intrayles of my breast Sprinckle my hart with a dreadge of thy compassion and precepts mingled togither that I may not wander aside nor fall into the gulf of thy wrath but thy fauour may sustayne mee and thy loue may lift mee vp bryngyng my féete into thy roomthe of rest where I may not choose but fulfill thy godly heastes O how happie were I if I might neuer héereafter in thought woorde nor déede commit the thynge that should displease thy maiestie that life is the longyng of my soule and th' effect of my desier my hart mutch wisheth to sée that blessed time and my ioyes then should bée sutch as no toongue can tell Truely to know thée with the Sunne and the holly ghost is the true perfection of eternall life th' end of blissefulnesse the summe of all delightes no eye hath séene no eare hath heard nor hath it pearced into the deapth of any mans vnderstandyng to valew the inestéemable charitie delectation and pleasures of the same felicitie when wée shall béehold the maiestie of God face to face Verely moste glorious kinge I haue reposed this hope in my bosom and my harte daunceth within my breast for ioy therof and I doo assure my selfe through faith in thée that these eyes wherewith I reade these lines shall sée that glorie and this fleash wherwith I am cloked in corruption and meashed in mortalitie shal bee a membre of that immortall kyngdome This worlde is farst with wickednesse and there are manie staies that stoppe a man from righteousnesses blindyng him that hée may not see and hampryng him that hée may not stirre to doo the thyng that is acceptable vnto God sequestring his minde from all thoughtes studies and labours that may incite him vnto thée But my trust is in thée O God that thou wilt not suffer mée to fall into any outragious offēce that may demerite thy hot indignation O turne away mine eyes least I beeholde vanitie and guide my handes that I tutche no vniust thyng lift vp my mynde vnto contemplation of heauenly sightes and pull mée from terrestriall cogitations that are but transitorie I haue prayed for one thynge and I request the same moste hartely that thou wouldest preserue my youthe from flatterers and mine olde age from slaunderers for the one sorte of them would deuoure mée béefore I am ripe and the other would burie mée béefore I am dead and I haue alwayes hated them bothe vtterly Powre downe vpon mée O my louyng God the blessed dew of thy diuine and incomparable wisdome whiche is alwayes resident aboute thy heauenly seat that I may know my selfe throughly and honour thée woorthely consideryng the frame of mine owne infirmitie and that there is no goodnesse but it descendeth from thee that arte aboue When through the peruerse and froward inclination of my nature I fall into any wicked and vngodly imaginations leaue mée not good Lorde vnto them acquite mée from the disordinate lustes of the body let no desier of vncleanesse take holde vpon mee and giue mée not ouer vnto an vnshamefast impious and obstinate minde Set a sure bridle vpon my mouth that I speake no proude thynges agaynst thée suffer not my toongue to bée acquaincted with swearyng and let not the namyng of God bée continually in my lippes for in it are manie falles but mercifully giue thou mée aduisement what I shal speake ere euer I open my mouth Call not the woordes that I haue vaynely spoken vnto accoumpt impute them not vnto mée for sinne giue mée vnderstandynge to keepe prudent silence and when I speake let it either bée for temporall necessitie either to edefie others or els to beare righteous testimonie of the trueth let the veritie of my assertion consist in yea yea or nay nay Lorde héere stande I vile wretch béefore the throne of thy drad presence hopyng that I shalbée heard not in the fayntnesse of my faith but in the power of thy promises O weigh my weakenesse and graunt my desier as thou knowest moste méete for mée then can I want no wealth and my conscience shalbée replenished with all spirituall consolation Amen C ¶ Cast not thine eyes aside from the poore that thou giue him no occasion to speake euill of thee For if hee complayne in
euer shall endure aduaunce mee to thy kyngdome that neuer shall ende and thy glorie shall still liue in mée for I shall neuer die Amen N. ¶ No thought may escape God neither may any woord bee hid from him hee hath garnished the high excellent woorkes of his wisdom and hee is from euerlasting to euerlastyng ¶ The .x. Flower NEwnesse of life and singlenesse of hart and an vndefiled waye are the very offringes of soote incense vnto thée O thou moste righteous God and thou acceptest the sorowful sute of a martyred minde in what time soeuer hee powreth foorthe his playnt vnto thee so harken vnto mée I béeséeche thee for heauinesse hath builded his bower within my breast I come vnto thée béetimes in the mornyng and late in the night and at high noone and when I go to rest and when I rise agayne when I am alone and when I am in companie whether I bée in thy holly church or in my secret chamber and all is for thy mercie O Lorde for thou haste no respecte of the person time or place Multiplie in mée the giftes of thy grace and conuert thy foes through my force make my bodie an instrument of all goodnesse whiche shall come to passe if thou clense the vncleanesse of my soule scoure the vnséemely spottes of my stayned conscience examine my thoughtes and innouate a newe degrée of desiers within my harte Lorde graunt I beseeche thée that whether I bee in wealth or woe in health or in sickenesse whether I eat or drinke sleepe or wake trauayle or take my rest or what euer I doo I may doo it in thée and for thée and by thée and nothing without thée for my defier is alwaies if it bée possible to bée with thee neuer to bee from thee Plant fast thy pleasure in the bottome of my breast for thy will O God is the worker of my wealthe and my wil is the weauer of my wothy law is the leader vnto light and my law is the loser of my life thy heastes are the healpers vnto health and my heastes are the heapers vp of my heauinesse thy precepts are the porte of peace and my preceptes are the passedge to perdition This worlde where I am Lorde may well bée termed the vale of wickednesse for héere is nothyng els but pride malice partialitie trouble enuie vexation strife carefulnesse ambition couetousnesse briberie extorcion vsurie idle othes and abhominable periuirie whoredome hipocrisie and all vnclenlinesse bitter contention for the trueth of thy woorde and no man careth to follow it O Lorde that it might please thee to quenche the thirst of this worldly vanitie that biteth so sharpe within the breast of mortall men that they might see what it is that they seeke for learne to looke after that which thei lose that by due conference of the twayne they may beeholde their follie and hartely repent them while they haue respite The gayne of thy grace O thou greate God shall euermore bée the brightnesse of my bewtie for I will request nothyng but thy mercie and put my confidence in no creature but in thee only if I haue that then am I happie and if I bee with thee I am blessed and I wil singe foorth thy prayses in the congregation of thy faithfull people Lorde thou knowest how litle the righteousnesse is whiche I haue and yet that whiche I haue is altogether to bee reputed thine for it is euident that I can alonely doo no good deede but not so mutche as name GOD were it not through the holly ghoste and vnlesse thou giue the power whiche sayest that without thee wee can doo nothynge Open my mouthe that withall my soule I may make humble supplications vnto thee and confesse my selfe vnto thy maiestie saying thou hast wrought all our good woorkes in vs and therefore in respect of them wee may sing with thy princely prophet Dauid not vnto vs Lorde not vnto vs but vnto thy name giue the glorie So farre as in mée lieth I wil endeuour that thy most woorthie fame shall streatche vnto the endes of the worlde vnto Turkes and infidels that haue no knowledge of thee or such as liue in misbeeleef of thy truth and I beeséech thee to arme the preachers of thy woord with boldnes and vnderstanding that they may fayle for no feare to tell the truth nor bée corrupt with ignorance nor heresie Thou art most woorthie O lorde God to bée loued and honoured fâ—r thy great goodnes and vnsearcheable wisedome and all other perfections without number or end that art verie perfection it self and all that euer wée can yéeld vnto thée in faithe or feare or loue is too too litle and very nothing in respect of that which thou hast deserued If thou shouldest lay vnto our charge the gréeuous default of innocencie and righteousnesse whiche is required to bee in vs by thy commaundementes O Lorde how coulde wee endure the sharpenesse of thy iudgement for wée were assured to perish eternally but lende mée the shield of thy mercy to defend mée against the stroake of thy iust wrath Reueale vnto mine eyes the bewty and coomlinesse of vertues and the fowlenesse and deformitie of vices that I may fall in loue with the one and mislikyng with the other taking a speciall reguarde whiche I shoulde harbour in my hart submittyng my self vnto thy heauenly disposition as I may bée made meetest to serue thée I will laude thée O Lorde my strength with my lippes and I will magnifie thy might with my mouth I wil loue thy lawes as my life and walke in thy will as my way I wil singe foorth thi saluation in my song and muse on thy mercies in my minde I will hange vp thy hope in my harte and bury thy bountie in my bosome Amen N. ¶ Now I see that they which feare God haue the right spirite for their hope standeth in him that can helpe them and the eies of the Lorde are on them that loue him ¶ The .xj. Flower NEuer let mée doo the thynge O Lorde that is displeasant in thy sight but make thou my steppes right vnto thée and cléere my pathes in thy presence that there bée no iniquitie founde in my harte nor guile in my mouth nor vnrighteousnesse in my handes nor any thynge about mée that maye prouoke offence agaynst thee that thou shouldest turn from mée and forsake mée It is thy wisdome that is vnto mee more precious then golde and I desier it aboue althynges bee they neuer so fayer I am inflamed with the loue of it lende it vnto mée my deere God for it is that whiche teacheth thy will and sheweth what is most acceptable vnto thy sight and it leadeth the way vnto the true worshippynge of thee O my God I haue gone astray I haue doone amisse I haue committed wickednesse I am sinfull cal mée home and pardon my misdooynges plucke mee away from my haynous offences heale my soule that is oppressed with harmes
from hearing it and my sense of féeling from conceauing delight in it But cause mée to take a singular delectation in all thinges that maye please thée put away from mée al erring from thy waies all wéerines of thy will all lothsomnes of thy loue Take from mée all pride and self liking that I may conceaue no good opinion of my selfe for that which is none of myne own let mée not think I am ritch in thée when I am poore that I sée when I am blinde that I am hid when I am naked that I am iust when I am vnrighteous that I am somthing when I am nothing As for the infinitie of my offences which in numbre surpas the sandes of the sea giue vnto mee a cléere sparcle of thy heauenlie light O my god that I may béehold them a penitent hart that I may confesse them plentifull teares that I may bée waile thē a wonderfull mislikinge that I may abhorre them O Lorde is there any thing that flesh an Bloud may glorie of in thy sight no truely for thou hast asked vs what wée haue which wée haue not receaued from the fountaine of thy fulnes wée haue drawne all that wée haue enioyed and of our selues there is not one that doth good no Lord not one Create in mée therefore O gracious Lorde a new hart and a new soule confirme mée in thy faith that I may not fall erect mee in all good woorkes that bée acceptable in thy sight then cannot my mouthe cease but alwayes bée shewyng thy péerelesse praises and milde mercies Amen C. ¶ Come not in the path of the vngodly and walke not in the way of the wicked Cast all your care vpon God for hee careth for you ¶ The thirde Flower COme vnto mée all yée that trauell and bée heauie laden criest thou O my most swéet sauiour and I will refresh you Here now I come vnto thée offryng my selfe béefore thy heauenly maiestie lowly fallyng downe vpon the knees of my hart holdynge vp the handes of my Faith wherby I may take most assured hope of thee and come vnto thée Draw mée vnto thee for els I am not able to come I can doo nothynge therto of my selfe not so mutche as thinke one good thought mutchlesse merite or deserue to presume vnto thee vpon respect of any mine owne woorthinesse As for my woorthinesse it is vnwoorthinesse béefore thée my thoughtes bee sinfull my deedes bee damnable and if thou haue reguard vnto my merites then am I sure to haue damnation for my desert and Hell for mine hier O thou almightie béefore whom the Angels tremble at their impuritie the Sonne is fowle the Moone is filthy the Starres vncleane and the heauens are corrupt what can I haue to boast of but of mine owne natural vnclenlinesse and that I am the childe of perdition Supplie thou my defects O God and what is wantyng in mee make it perfect through thee which art the summe of all goodnes and perfection vnto the righteous let mee not depart destitute from thee for in thee is the fulnesse of felicitie Heere where I am Lorde I am laden sore and greeuously ouerpressed with the burden of my sinnes they weigh mee greeuously downe to the grounde I cannot looke vp and my crusshed bones doo ake with extreeme wéerinesse Come O Lorde O come speedely and set to thy helpyng hande take from mée this wright of wickednes cleere mée from this clogge of corruption and seuere mee from this sinke of sinne Humble my Harte that I may haue no vayne likyng of my self and that my freindes neighbours and acquaintnance finally the world fall into no displeasure against mée therfore but especially thy maiestie for it is a greeuous offence Fortifie my minde with the strongest armour of pacience that I may take in good part all mockes scoffes reproches and persecutions for thy truethes sake and when I am prooued let mee bee founde faithfull Confirme mee fully O my creator in thy Trueth and al godlinesse let no shininge of promotions nor thundre of threatninges nor windie puffes of wordlie vanitie pluck mee from that whiche is right but let thy will bee my way and thy law my delight Driue away all dimnesse from mine eyes and sluggishnesse from my feete that I may speedely beeholde and diligently fulfill to my abilitie the least poynt and iote of thy preceptes wherto when I haue applied my selfe yet am I to to mutch an vnprofitable seruaunt notwithstandynge let thy tendre mercie alwayes preuent mee O my moste sweetest God. Thou hast lified mee vp alost in the sight of thy people and haste indued mee with greate honour aboue my peeres and equalles graunt vnto mee likewise so mutche to excell them in vertue and godlinesse make mée a worthy minister and steward of thy giftes consideryng that all power and aucthoritie commeth from thee and that thou raisest the vngodly on high to cast him downe low and the loftier his seat is the more great and gréeuous is his fall Engendre in mée good Lorde a greedie desier to do Iustice that hauing thée alwaies béefore mine eies and printyng thy iudgements within my hart I may bee free from all affection and pure from all partialitie hauyng no respect to the persons but vprightly weighyng the causes that thereby the trueth may bee aduaunced and vniustice condempned Remooue from mee all corruption in iudgement and vnrighteousnes in dealyng kéepe my mouth from lesinges and my handes from bloud remembryng that thou art the searcher of the hart and raines that shalt come to iudge the quicke and the dead repaying vnto euery man accordyng vnto the woorks of his owne hands Forgiue mée O my Lorde and my God the wickednesse of my fore passed life remembre not mine offences neither the offences of my predicessours to lay them vnto my charge lay foorth the direct line of thy law béefore my féete that I may walke therein with out erryng regenerate a new will within mée to perseuere in thy way holde mee vp therin that I doo not fall pricke mee foorth that I doo not fainte and my toongue shal talke continually of thy moste glorious goodnes Amen H. ¶ Happie are those seruants whom the Lorde when hee commeth shal finde wakyng Verely I say vnto you that hee shall girde himself and make them to sit downe to meate and will come foorth and ministre vnto them ¶ The fourth Flower HArken vnto the voice of the Lord thy God O my feely soule and heare what cheerefull promises hée hath reposed in store for thée namely that when soeuer thou repentest thée of thy sinnes from the bottome of thy hart hée will blotte out the remembrance of them for euermore so that they shall neuer bée imputed vnto thée O come then with spéede and with all submission cast foorth the intollerable burden of thy moste lothsome lustes béefore the Lorde call vnto him that hée woulde set open the gates of his manifolde mercies vnto thée giue thée a perfect penitent hart
and the spirite of constancie to perseuere in the same Bende downe thine heauely eies O Lorde from the celestiall throne of thy glorie and béeholde the state and condition of mée that lie héere in the earth béelow waltrynge in this vale of wickednesse drenched in this dungeon of darkenesse martired in millians of miseries couched in this cloake of calamities loste in this laberinth of lustes smoultred in this smoke of sensualitie greatly growyng from grace and voide of vertue Wherefore as thou haste at this present time so continew with dayly increasing in mée a lothyng of my self in respect of sinne a desier vnto thée by meane of faithfull praier hartie contrition possible satisfactiō innouation of life continuation of Grace tendynge vnto the preseruation both of my body and soule Send downe vnto mée Lorde the cleere lookyng glasse of thy wisdoome that I may béeholde therin th' ouglesomenesse and deformitie of mine vnrighteousnes giue mée a Viale ful of the water of vnfained repentance that sprincklyng my self therwith although I were with sinnes more read then scarlet I may bée made more white then snow Wash away the filthinesse of my sinnes with a branche of bitter I sop wherein is figured the vnpleasant fast of afflictions troubles and persecutions sent vnto vs by thy hande most righteous God in liew of our offences and I shall béecome passing pure Neuertheles ouercharge mee not O swéet Lorde I béeséeche thée nor lay not more vpon my backe then I am able to carie for thou knowest best th' infirmitie of my fraile fleash and the weakenes of our kinde since wée all bée thine and the worke of thy holly handes O my God what is there in this worlde that men should bée so greedie to continue therin and so lothe to forgoe the fruition of this transitorie life while wée remayne héere wee are all touched with troubles those that haue wealth at will are checked with calamities yea Princes themselues are not alwayes at ease béesides that wée heape vp dayly the desert of thy iudgement Whilst my dayes bée prolonged within this darke den of mortallitie lighten the Lantern of thy diuine woord béefore my feete that I stumble not agaynst the heape of my haynous offences and fall downe head long into the déepe Dungeon of desperation Likewise plucke from mée the fonde Feathers of saucie presumption least takyng an hautie conceite in my selfe to bee that which alas I am not thou reueale my filthinesse and cast mée downe thither where there is no redemption Gratiously graunt vnto mee O my Lorde and Kynge that I may neuer take my selfe to bée other then in deede I am make mée to bée sutch one as I ought and let mée bée hée that I would thē shal I neuer dwell in errour thy fauour shoulde neuer fayle mee and hereafter which notwithstandyng I hope bée an inheritour of thy heauenly kyngdome Lorde I béeséeche thée keepe mee that I neuer fall into reprobate sence and let mée not bée seduced by any false doctrine let the lines of thy law bee printed in the bowels of my bellie lighten inflame and confirme the hartes of thy chosen people that they may haue one minde one will all a like seeke thee finde thee see thee and magnifie thy glorious name Preuent all my dooinges with thy most fauourable kyndenes O father of mercies and so direct my wayes in thy Faith and feare of thy maiestie that I may commit no wickednes nor consent thereto let there bee founde no guilt in my handes nor guile in my hart preserue my lippes from lies from incontinencie mine eyes my fleash from filth my sowle from sinne and the whole course of my life from offence transgression O Lorde heare my praiers let myne ernest crie come into thy presence and entre into thine Eares whiche I yeeld heere vnto thee from the very deapth of my Hart with a wounded conscience and a bleedyng soule with broken sighes and weepyng eyes bended knees and stretched handes but which most is with ardent affection and feruent Faith. Bende downe thy selfe O bende downe vnto my piteous playntes thou God of our Fathers and accordyng as thou hast spoken let it so bée doone vnto thy seruant Great is thy grace O graunt mée thy grace manifolde are thy mercies O shew mée thy mercie puisant is thy power O sende mee thy power that I may turne from sinne and turne to thee leaue my olde life and leade a new that I may alwaies bee thy seruant and thou likewise eternally bée mine eternall God. Amen O. ¶ O thou Earth Earth Earth heare the woorde of the Lorde Of a trueth GOD hath no reguarde of persons but in euery nation hee that feareth him and woorketh righteousnesse is accepted with him ¶ The fift Flower O Euerlastyng GOD and moste louyng Father maker of all the world kyng of Blisse Lorde of Life giuer of peace and continuer of concorde looke downe into the bottome and deapth of my conscience and consider the perpetuall afflictions which dayly I sustayne therin to the daungerous distresse wonderful woundyng of the same Strengthen mee O Lord against the furious inuasions of three my moste mortall foes the Fleash the Worlde and the Deuill whiche to th' intent they might suppresse mee cease not continually withall theyr force to assayle the séely spirite which thou hast lent vnto mee the woorke of thy wisedome and the image of thy substance My moste sweet God keepe mee with the winges of thy vertue asist mee with thy holy ghost that I may heedfully withholde my feete from all snares and trappes whiche may any way intangle mee withdraw mee from due obedience towardes thee and thy will staying mee from walkyng forwarde in thy heauenly heastes that lead to life For Satan myne auntient enemie seeketh out a thousand meanes to beguile mee hée excelleth in subteltie hée aboundeth in craftes hee passeth in wilinesse in so mutch that hee transformeth his lothsome shape into the likenesse of an Angell of light therby to supplant thine elect but defende thou mee from him O my most mightie God. Pondre the nature and disposition of my frayle fleash how it is nothing els but the graue of my ghost a farthell of infirmities a lumpe of lothesomnesse a prison of perdition a sink of sinne and a frame of frowarde moulde contrarie to that whiche is good and alwaies promptly prest to the worse As for this worlde it is the vale of wilfulnesse the way of wicked cōuersation a iorney fraught with ioperdie a pilgrimage fully pight with pitious pininges a deepe dungeon of destruction an infectious soyle with sinfulnesse a lake of vnlawful lustes and a tree of traiterous fruites repugnant O God to thy moste sacred will. The Deuill is the déerlyng of damnation the Prince of dreadful darkenesse the Kynge of calamities the wicked woorker of woes the Fende of finall destruction the greedie gaper for mans procured perdition the poysoned puddle of lies the sneaking Snake of