vnto the Lord God of Israel Lord when thou wentest out of Seir when thou departedst out of the field of Edom the earth trembled and the heauens rained the clouds also dropped water The mountaines melted before the Lord euen as did Sinai before the Lord God of Israel In the daies of Samgar the some of Anath in the daies of Iael the high waies were vnoccupied for feare of the enimies and the trauellers walked through bywaies The townes were not inhabited they decaied I say and the inhabitants thereof were gone in Israel vntill I Deborah came vp which miraculously mooued by God to pitie deliuer them rose vp a mother in Israel They chose new gods and then had they war or the enimie in the gates was there a shield or speare seene among fortie thousand of Israel they had no hart to resist their enimies My hart is set on the gouernours of Israel and loueth them that are willing among the people praise yee the Lord. Speake yee gouernours that ride on faire Asse s or Moiles yee that dwell by Middin in danger of your enimies and that walke by the waies For the noise of the archers among the drawers of water ceased There shall they rehearse the righteousnesse of the Lord his righteousnesse in his vnfenced townes in Israel then did the people of the Lord go downe to the gates without feare of the enimie Up Debora vp arise and sing a song Arise Barak and lead thy captiuitie or them that kept thy people in bondage and captiuitie captiue thou sonne of Abinoam For they that remaine haue dominion ouer the mightie of the people the Lord hath giuen mee dominion ouer the strong Of Ephraun their roote Iosua first arose and fought against Amalek and after thee Iosua Beniamin that is Saule shall fight against thy people O Amalek Of Machir came rulers and of Zebulun they that handle the penne of the writer euen the learned did helpe to fight And the princes of Issachar were with Debora and the whole tribe of Issachar and also Barak he was sent on foote into the vallie for the diuisions of Ruben were great thoughts of hart Why abodest thou among the sheepfolds to heare the bleatings of the flocks For the diuisions of Ruben that came not ouer Iordan to helpe their brethren in their necessitie were great thoughts of hart and much maruelling Gilead abode beyond Iordan yet came to helpe their brethren therefore thou Ruben canst haue no excuse and why doth Dan remaine in ships Asher continued on the sea shore and taried in his desolate decaied places But the people of zebulun and Nepthalie haue ieoparded their liues vnto the death in the hie places of the field The kings came and fought then fought the king of Chanaan in Taanach by the waters of Megiddo and wan no monie but lost all They fought from heauen euen the starres in their courses fought against Sisera and by Gods power his people were holpen to ouer come their enimies The riuer of kishon swept them away as a béesome doth the filth of the house that ancient riuer the riuer Kishon O my soule thou hast marched valiantly Then were the horse hoofes broken with the praunsing and oft beating together of their mightie men Curse ye the citie of Meros where ye fought said the Angel of the Lord curse the inhabitants thereof bicause they came not to helpe the Lord to helpe the Lord against the mightie Iael the wife of Heber the Kenite shall be blessed aboue other women blessed shall she be aboue women dwelling in tents He asked water and she gaue him milke she brought foorth butter in a lordlie dish She put hir hand to the naile and hir right hand to the workmans hammer with the hammer smote she Sisera she smote off his head after she had wounded and persed his temples He bowed him downe at hir feete he fell downe and lay still at hir feete he bowed himselfe downe and fell when he had sunk downe he lay there dead destroied The mother of Sisera looked out at a windowe and cried through the lattise Why is his chariot so long a comming Why tarie the wheeles of his chariots All hir wise Ladies answered hir yea she answered or comforted hir selfe with hir owne words Surely they haue gotten and found they diuide the spoile euerie man hath a damsell or two Sisera hath a praie of diuers coloured garments euen a praie of raiment died with sundrie colours and that are made of needle worke raiment of diuers colours and of needle worke on both sides which is meete for him that is chiefe in distributing of the spoiles So let all thine enimies perish O Lord but they that loue him shall be as the sunne when hee riseth in his might and growe dailie more and more in Gods fauour And the land had rest fortie yeeres The praier or blessing of Naomy for hir two daughters in lawe Ruth and Orpah Ruth 1 8 9. THE Lord shew fauour and deale as kindlie with you my good daughters as yee haue dealt with the dead your husband 's my two sonnes and with mee Yea the Lord grant you that you may find rest either of you in the house of hir husband The praier or vow of Hanna for a sonne 1. Samuel 1 11. O Lord of hosts if thou wilt looke on the trouble of thine handmaid and remember mee and not forget thine handmaid but giue vnto thine handmaid a manchild then I will giue him vnto the Lord all the daies of his life and there shall no rasor come vpon his head The song and thankesgiuing of Hanna after she by praier had obteined a sonne called Samuel 1. Samuel 2. MIne hart reioiceth in the Lord and mine horne is exalted in the Lord for I haue recouered strength and glorie by his benefit my mouth is inlarged or wide open ouer mine enimies so that I can now answere them that reprooue my barrennesse for I reioice in thy saluation There is none holie as the Lord yea there is none besides thee and there is no god like our God Speake no more presumptuouslie against God in condemning my barrennesse let not arrogancie come out of your mouth for the Lord is a God of knowledge and his purposes come to passe and by him enterprises are established The bowe with the mightie men are broken and they that were weake haue girded themselues with strength They that were full are hired foorth for bread and sell their labours for necessarie foode and the hungrie are no more hired but cease to haue néede so that the barren hath borne seuen euen many and shee that had many children is waren feeble The Lord killeth maketh aliue bringeth downe to the graue and raiseth vp againe The Lord maketh poore and maketh rich bringeth lowe and exalteth vp on high He raiseth vp the poore out of the dust and according to his owne will lifteth vp the begger from the dunghill to set
and euer and especiallie all things that shall turne to thy displeasure And with all my hart I thanke thee most mercifull Lord for the great benefits that thou hast bestowed vpon me largelie in this world afore manie creatures which are more woorthie a thousand times than I but my most gratious Lord I wot and knowledge verelie that all good gifts doo come freelie from thee of thine abundant mercie Wherefore with all my hart I thanke thee and all worship praises and thanks be to thee and none other Therefore I saie with the Prophet Dauid Not vnto vs Lord not vnto vs but vnto thy name be giuen all honour glorie Also I commit to thy mercie mine enimies persecutors and slanderers beseeching thee to turne their harts and to giue vs grace one to forgiue another from the verie botome of our harts that from hence-foorth we may liue in loue and charitie to thy glorie and to the increase of thy kingdome I doo commit to thy mercie our Queene Elizabeth and this Realme beseeching thee to incline hir hart to all godlinesse and vertue that she may long reigne ouer vs in peace and tranquillitie to liue in thy feare and call vpon thy holie name and to be readie at all times to set foorth thy blessed lawes and commandements and that thou O omnipotent God with thy mightie hand and stretched out arme wilt confound all Idolatrie and superstition and set vp thy true and holie religion that thy faithfull seruants may triumph and reioice in thee with merie harts and sing vnto thy praise that this the mightie hand of GOD hath brought to passe and to thy name giue the honour and glorie to whome all honour and glorie is due I doo commit vnto thy mercie all those that in this transitorie life be in sorowe sicknesse neede tribulation or anie other aduersitie and speciallie all those that for the profession of thy Gospell and the defence of the saine doo put their liues vnto the edge of the sword O Lord for thy mercies sake forgiue them and vs our offences past comfort them in their greeuous afflictions strengthen them in their weakenesse send them patience in their tribulations abate the pride of their and our enimies asswage the malice of them confound their wicked deuises that we and they being armed with thy mightie defence may be preserued euermore from perils to glorifie thee which art the onlie giuer of all victorie through y e merits of Christ So be it I commit to thy mercie all those that doo faithfullie professe thy holie Gospell beseeching thee to giue vs grace to liue according to thy lawes that by well dooing we may stop the mouthes of the vngodlie aduersaries of the Gospell and thereby win them to the right waie that we may all with one hart and one mouth glorifie thee O Lord God in the daie of visitation to whome all honour and glorie is due And now O my most mercifull Lord and louing father I finallie commit vnto thy mercie my wretched soule and bodie humblie beseeching thee to haue mercie vpon me according to thy great bountifull mercie and according to the multitude of thy tender compassions doo awaie I beseech thee my most greeuous iniquities Unto God the father the sonne and the holie Ghost be now and euer eternall honour and glorie world without end Amen A praier at night going to bed THe God of Angels and men the founder of all creatures visible and inuisible in whose hand is life and death light and darknesse and all the motions of soule and bodie without whome there is no good gift nor perfect quietnesse of conscience but onlie vanitie and vexation of mind and vtter confusion of soule and bodie and finall torments in the horrible pit of darknesse now my Lord God darknesse doth approch this daie hath lost his beautie I as vnworthie of thy benefits most humblie praie thee this night to blesse me and with thy holie Angels assist me thy holie spirit this night lighten me which hast of earth made me and by thy creatures doest nourish me and with thy bloud hast consecrated me with thee to dwell eternallie in glorie when death hath dissolued me which am but vanitie c. And banish Sathan from me that neither mine owne conscience now vexe me nor mine old offences trouble me I most humblie beseech thee this night to pardon me which haue sore offended thee in thought word and deede against thy diuine maiestie which sore repenteth me Saue me good Lord this night sleeping from dreadfull dreames and painefull slumber deliuer me that I may awake in Christ and rest in peace So be it The Hymne or praier for night PRaise ye the Lord his seruants all lift vp to him your hands The night singers in Gods courts in all Christian lands Praise we the Lord our God king which made the earth heuen His blessing be on vs this night which made the planets seuen Into thy hands O Lord our God our soules we do commend This night from sinne Sathans power thy mercie vs defend We laud thee Father for thy grace We praise the Sonne which made vs free We thanke the holie Spirit for our solace Which is one God and persons three Amen Another Hymne or praier to be said when ye go to bed I Go to bed I hope to sléepe God knoweth when I shall rise My soule O Lord defend and kéep from it turne not thine eies This daie I haue committed sinne a hundred times and more I was conceiued and borne therein forgiue me Lord therefore To thée I will my soule betake sinfull it is to sée For I do knowe thou canst it make as pure as néede to bée Forgiue me mine offences all my soule Lord do not kill To thée I will betake my soule accept my zealous will Thy pardon Lord I trust to haue as Dauid had and mo My soule I trust thou wilt now saue from death damned wo. In thée O God I put my trust to guide and aide me still To kéepe me alwaies true and iust according to thy will Thou God of might great renowme I trust thou wilt me kéepe Lord with thy leaue I will lie downe to take my rest and sléepe So be it M. W. The Antheme WE looke for our sauiour euen the Lord Iesus Christ which shall change our vile bodie that it may be like to his glorious bodie according to the power whereby he is able to subdue all things vnto himselfe Amen Let vs praie Lord haue mercie vpon vs. Christ haue mercie vpon vs. Lord haue mercie vpon vs. * Our Father which art in heauen c. VIsit we beseech thee O Lord this our dwelling and driue from it all the assaults of our enimie let thy holie Angels dwel in it which may keepe vs all this night in thy peace and euer let thy blessing be vpon vs. Grant this O most mercifull father for thy sonnes sake Iesus Christ who with thee and
no meanes escape but that I must needs be a praie vnto one of them Strengthen me therefore O Lord that neither the one with carnall lusts neither the other with delectable pleasures nor Sathan himselfe with all his craftie and subtile deuises get the dominion ouer me Thou hast bought me thou hast paid for me take thou me saue keepe and defend me be alwaies readie at the voice of my crieng powre into me thy grace patientlie to abide thy diuine will and pleasure in all things Make me both at this present and all the daies of my life to haue in mind and profoundlie to roote in my hart the mysteries of thy painefull passion and so to be filled with the remembrance thereof that sin may no more enter into me and that Sathan mine old enimie may well perceiue that he hath neither part nor fellowship in me but that I am both bodie and soule altogether thine to whome be all praises world without end Amen A praier vnto God the holie Ghost O Holie Ghost O blessed and holie spirit comforter of them that be afflicted thou proceeding from the Father and the Sonne art the true instructor and teacher of the diuine and heauenlie veritie Wherefore I with all humilitie praie thee to renew and make in me a cleane hart to graffe a right spirit in me to guide and gouerne me that I may thinke nothing speake nothing doo nothing but that onlie which shall please thee And whereas I haue not ceased to offend my Lord God and maker and most greeuouslie to transgresse against Iesus my redeemer and sauiour I praie thee that I may haue inward sorowe repentance and shame thereof and that euer hereafter I may performe my dutie as I ought to doo and so bring foorth the fruits of repentance that the passion of Iesus Christ may defend me from all sinne and wickednesse and bring me to the ioies of paradise So be it A godlie praier for the true worshipping of God which may be vsed in the Church before common praier STablish our harts and minds O most gratious God in the true woorshipping of thy diuine maiestie make vs to beleeue thy holie and sacred Gospell wherein we are dailie and hourelie instructed to loue feare honour and obeie thee to hate sinne and iniquitie to renounce all superstitious ceremonies whereby thy worship is defaced thy glorie prophaned and thine honour greatlie diminished Giue vs the grace to hate sinne and iniquitie to renounce and forsake the vanities and wanton pleasures of this wicked and sinfull world Arme vs we beseech thee to mortifie and bring vnder the rebellious appetites and straieng lusts of the flesh And finallie giue vs power from aboue to withstand Sathan the prince of darknesse and all his damnable ministers who by diuers temptations prouoke and allure vs from godlie puritie and perfect integritie which passeth onlie from Christ Iesus vnto vs who is the fulnesse of our perfection and holinesse to all kinds of euill impietie and vncleannesse by meanes whereof thy worship is greatlie prophaned and of a set purpose contemned Make vs constant to skirmish against the world sinne death and hell and by the power of a fruitefull faith giue vs grace to resist and bridle the concupiscence of our flesh in such sort that our soules may triumph with victorie and continue constant in woorshipping thee from whom passeth the fulnesse of our ioie Prepare our harts and minds good Lord now and euer to spread foorth the glorie of thy name Kéepe our tongues from all filthie talke and vncomelie gesture least by the exercise of such sinne we contemne thy worship and prouoke thee to displeasure and indignation Set thou a watch before the gates of my mouth that my lips by thy grace may be alwaies made open to sound foorth thy praise and euerlasting glorie Be mercifull to our offences thinke thou not on our vnrighteousnesse but vpon thy clemencie Forgiue them freelie and pardon gratiouslie our sinnes make vs faithfull in Christ Iesus Shorten the dangerous daies of iniquitie increase the number of thy chosen and peculiar Saincts Hasten thy comming O sauiour Christ that we with the felowship of the Saints heauenlie Angels and the blessed companie of Martyrs may celebrate thy praise and worship thee in thy glorious kingdome before the father our God and the holie Ghost to whome be praise for euer Amen Another praier that we may liue so vprightlie in this life that at the last we may dwell in the euerlasting tabernacle O Lord seeing that the righteous shall dwell in thy tabernacle graunt me I beseech thee a pure and vndefiled soule O what is the shape of the earth wherein Gods enimies haue abiding in comparison of the woonderfull beautie of heauen wherein righteousnesse doth dwell in comparison of that place wherein Angels Archangels all good men yea and God himselfe is abiding What are the pleasures of the world wealth honour companie of our parents and friends wherein all our pleasure and sweetenesse is mixed with sowrenesse and sorowe wherein euerie perfection hath his imperfection What is all this to the vnspeakeable ioie in the kingdome of God What is the companie of friends heere in comparison to the companie of Abraham Isaac and Iacob the Patriarches and Prophets and all the Saints of God Oh the felicitie of euerlasting life which is without all discommodities perpetuall without all perill and molestation Oh the glorious maiestie the singular mirth and passing ioies of the life to come The eie hath not seene nor the hart of man is able to conceiue in anie part the happie estate of the blessed soules in heauen Oh how amiable are thy tabernacles My soule hath a desire to enter into the courts of the Lord. My hart and my soule reioice in the liuing God blessed be they that dwell in thy house they may be alwaies praising thee One daie in thy courts is better than a thousand elsewhere I had rather be a dore-keeper in the house of my God than to dwell in the tents of vngodlinesse The Lord God is a light and defence My soule is athirst for God euen for the liuing God When shall I come before the presence of my God My flesh longeth after thee in a barren and drie land where no water is Good Lord remember me and graunt that I may weare the white garments of innocencie with thine elected in thine euerlasting kingdome Amen A praier against the felowship of the vngodlie PRotect and defend me O heauenlie Father and most mercifull God from the felowship of the vngodlie men which dailie imagine mischiefe in their harts to harme the innocent Keepe me from the counsels of the foolish and vngodlie which speake proud things against the glorie of thy blessed name Defend me from faithlesse and deceiptfull ones whose guiltie stomaches are gorged with grudge enuie malice hatred disdaine and all vncharitablenesse For their throtes are like vnto an open sepulchre or swallowing graue their tongs are giuen
may with the enimies of mans felicitie be vanquished and subdued and I by him may liue in Iesus Christ E EXpell and roote out in and from my remembrance the detestable branches of wrath pride concupiscence vaine-glorie and all other horrible vices and noisome euils that heape vp thy greeuous displeasure against me Take from me all abuse let me neuer blaspheme thy blessed and glorious name let my tong be purged by thee from all corrupt and vncomelie talke let all my thoughts be occupied in thy seruice faith feare and loue Make me good Lord alwaies obedient to doo thy will and to walke in the waies of thy commandements and to delight in thy blessed testimonies And graunt me thy grace that by the hearing of thy Euangelicall and heauenlie doctrine my faith may be increased made strong and fruitfull to exercise the works of charitie and loue to all men and chieflie to those that constantlie fauour thy Gospell and continue faithfull in Christ Iesus Euermore I saie good Lord giue me thy blessings from aboue and let my hart my soule and tong be euer readie for thy gratious benefits receiued to publish and set foorth thy glorie and praise in weale and wo in pouertie and prosperitie in time of peace and in time of danger Stretch foorth thy hand to protect me and I by thee deliuered from all perils shall make my boast of thy mercies freelie showne vnto me without my deserts and with the felowship of thy Saints giue such honour praise and reuerence vnto thee as of right and bounden dutie I ought to doo And forasmuch as not euerie one that saith Lord Lord shall enter into the kingdome of God and Christ make me not then a professor of thy word with my lips but an earnest louer of the same a faithfull folower of thy commandements least at the comming of the great and rich Bridegroome Iesus Christ I be refused as were the fiue vndiscreet and foolish virgins that wanted oyle to garnish their Lamps For if thou O Lord passe by and finde me vnprouided the gates of thy grace being fast shut vp and locked close I shall then stand knocking and calling the Lord all in vaine For thou wilt giue answere thou knowest me not and being forsaken of thee I shall perish euerlastinglie Giue me grace therefore O good Lord to be readie prepared with my wedding garment and oyle in my Lampe that I may continuallie watch thy comming and so enter with thee as thy ghest to the rich banqueting house of euerlasting glorie Amen F From sinfulnesse preserue me Lord R Renew thy spirit in my hart A And let my tongue therewith accord V Vttering all goodnesse for his part N No thought let there arise in me C Contrarie to thy statutes ten E Euer let me most mindfull be S Still for to praise thy name Amen A As of my soule so of my bodie B Be thou my guider O my God V Vnto thee onlie I do crie R Remoue from me thy furious rod. G Graunt that my head may still deuise A All things that pleasing be to thee V Vnto mine eares and to mine eies E Euer let there a watch set bee N None ill that they may heare and see N No wicked deede let my hands do Y Yn thy good paths let my feete go Finis ¶ Certaine praiers made by godlie women Martyrs The praier of Agnes the Martyr at hir death O Eternall Gouernour vouchsafe to open the gates of heauen once shut vp against all the inhabitants of the earth and receiue my soule oh Christ that seeketh thee The song of Eulalia the Martyr at hir death BEhold O Lord I wil not forget thee What a pleasure is it for them O Christ that remember thy triumphant victories to attaine vnto those high dignities The praier of Anne Askue the Martyr before hir death O Lord I haue mo enimies now than there be heares on my head yet Lord let them neuer ouercome me with vaine words but fight thou Lord on my side For on thee cast I my care With all the spite they can imagine they fall vpon me which am thy poore creature yet sweete Lord let me not set by them which are against me for in thee is my whole delight And Lord I hartilie desire of thee that thou wilt of thy most mercifull goodnesse forgiue them that violence which they doo and haue done vnto me Open also thou their blind harts that they may hereafter doo that thing in thy sight which is onlie acceptable before thee and to set foorth thy veritie aright without all vaine phantasies of sinfull man So be it O Lord So be it The praier that maister Bradfords morher said and offered vnto God in his behalfe a little before his martyrdome AH good Father which dooest vouchsafe that my sonne Iohn Bradford being a greeuous sinner in thy sight should find this fauour with thee to be one of thy sonne Christ his captaines and men of war to fight and suffer for his Gospels sake I thanke thee and praie thee in the same thy deere sonne Christs name that thou wouldest forgiue him his sinnes and vnthankfulnesse and make perfect in him that good which thou hast begun in him Yea Lord I praie thee make him worthie to suffer not only imprisonment but euen verie death for thy truth religion and Gospell sake As Hanna did applie dedicate and giue hir first child and sonne Samuel vnto thee euen so doo I deere Father beseeching thee for Christs sake to accept this my gift and giue my sonne Iohn Bradford grace alwaies trulie to serue thee and thy people as Samuel did Amen Amen Other godlie praiers taken out of the Psalmes written by a godlie harted Gentlewoman POnder my words O Lord consider my meditation O harken thou vnto the voice of my wofull mourning my King and my God for vnto thee will I make my praier Heare my voice O Lord betimes earlie in the morning will I direct my praier vnto thee for thou art the God that hast no pleasure in wickednesse neither shall anie euill dwell with thee Thou hatest all them that worke vanitie leade me therefore in thy righteousnesse O Lord for I am weake and without thee I haue no strength at all therfore O Lord God rebuke me not in thine indignation neither chasten me in thy heauie displeasure Haue mercie vpon me O Lord and deliuer my soule Oh saue me for thy mercie sake I am almost wearie of my groning Euerie night wash I my bed and water my couch with my teares O Lord my God in thee haue I put my trust saue mee from all them that persecute me and deliuer me O Lord my God if I haue done anie such thing as is laid to my charge or if there be anie such wickednesse in me then let mine enimie persecute my soule and take me captiue Hast not thou O Lord my God defended me from such vngodlinesse Oh how long wilt thou hide thy selfe from me
most readie to exceeding mercie and of whome a man may almost doubt whether thou be more slowe to wrath or more prone to pardon For is there anie thing O Lord void of thy goodnesse Naie what is there in this whole world anie where which doth not testifie thy clemencie and euen of it selfe set foorth thy glorie in this point that thou dooest suffer so manie generations and ages to passe and succeede in this world that is defiled so manie and fundrie waies and that thou dooest cause thy chosen people to knowe and declare by experience what thy dominion and power is that is to saie to be publishers of thy praise and valiant acts for committing the glorie of thy kingdome to their posteritie Wherefore by good right O Lord I will giue vnto thee due and conuenient praise declare thy woonderous works euen with a sounding voice that all may heare as it becommeth me all men to whom thou grantest the vse of this life to doo both diligentlie and continuallie As for me I will still call to mind the multitude of thy miracles and woonderous works wrought for me and I will consume all my life daies in praising thee therefore so long as I shall remaine aliue It shall be my speciall care to publish thy renowne with songs of praise And would to God that my songs might be so plesant and acceptable vnto thee as I with glad hart and cheerefull mind will celebrate thy so manie and so great benefits bestowed vpon me And be it far awaie and God forbid O my soule that euer we should forget the Lord our God But let rather my right hand forget hir cunning and all plaieng of instruments and let the tongue of euerie one of vs rather cleaue to the roofe of our mouthes than that it should be once vnmindfull of him or at anie time abandon the due deserued praises belonging to his most holy glorious mightie and eternall name and Maiestie O all ye creatures in heauen and earth agree yee vnto me and saie herevnto with one hart and mouth Amen Praise ye the Lord praise thou thy God O my soule Amen Amen The fift and last part of the Vow diuided also into fiue Chapters CAP. I. AND now O Lord my God and King I thine handmaid being appointed QVEENE by thee after such a maner of bountifulnesse as neuer was heard doo consecrate this song vnto thee both of mercie and iudgement wherevnto I doo vow and bind my selfe before thee this daie to performe them in the gouernment of the kingdome as thou both fatherlie requirest of me and gratiouslie hast commanded And first I will endeuour my selfe wholie to pietie and godlinesse and will labour diligentlie to preserue and to amplifie thy Church that thy pure worship may be continuallie exercised therein with as great care deuotion and holinesse as is possible I will go I saie into thy sanctified house O Lord euen into the holie habitation of thy most true wisdome will I enter that I may there learne thy iudgements and vnderstand thy will reuealed to doo to the vttermost of my power whatsoeuer thou requirest and commandest a King to doo For I doo testifie before thee that I desire nothing more than to visite and behold thy glorious Maiestie in thy Sanctuarie and therefore will I hasten speedilie to stand in the porches thereof to taste and see those visible signes of thy power and Maiestie shewed commonlie therein For doubtlesse thy goodnesse that offereth it selfe as it were there to be handled and felt is more sweet by far than life it selfe which causeth my soule so much the more to be inflamed with earnest desire to seeke thy face to see thy glorie and to set foorth thy praises with all my power Especiallie that the people which are holie vnto thee my God might assemble together by tribes and thousands after the maner apointed of thee to powre foorth praises and praiers and to celebrate thy holie name to the safetie and preseruation of all the families of our nation that loue and fauour thy truth to all posteritie Yea euen I my selfe O God with my father DAVID will gladlie go foorth with the multitude and lead thy people as he was woont into thy holie house O God with the voice of ioifull praisings and thanksgiuings as those that obserue thy sabaoths and festiuall daies most glorious vnto thee before the face of all people I will present my selfe often before thine altar not onlie with my hands washed in water but rather purified from all wickednes that I may openlie stablish thy praise and celebrate thy woonderfull works There will I sound foorth thy renowme with lowd voice with all my hart satisfied with the fatnesse and marowe of thy most holie delicates I will lead my life therein I saie O God setting forth thy magnificence and there will I lift vp mine innocent hart and hands with others and openlie amids the whole multitude call vpon thy name wherein is my safegard For there is nothing that I loue more deerlie than that Temple wherein thou hast set thy seate of glorie euen the house of thy Maiestie and holie Citie wherein the tribunall seate of my father DAVID left to his posteritie to minister iustice indifferentlie to euerie one is firmelie placed And why should not I doo so Why should not my soule I saie he thus inflamed and the zeale of thine house euen consume mee with feruent desire and hartie longing to seeke thy face O Iacob Seeing I haue had experience so oft of thy gratious goodnesse and miraculous helpe and seeing thou O Lord my God hast set thy house in Ierusalem that thy true worship might be by my diligence holilie exercised therein Therefore O God I euen I thine handmaid to whom thou hast appointed the kingdome will reioice and praise thee in thy sacred Sanctuarie and ioine my selfe as companion with those that doo worship thee trulie and deuoutlie therein neither will I be far or long from thence if I be Lord it shall be full sore against my will through some vrgent necessitie of my calling or office in this life And though I be absent in bodie at anie time from thy house as manie times it commeth to passe by reason I change my place so often yet I make a vow I will doo that I am able to wit whersoeuer I become I will cleaue vnto thee in my hart wholie and will not cease to thinke of thee and to meditate of thy manifold benefits powred vpon me Yea Lord thou knowest that I am accustomed to rise at mid-night when other doo soundlie sleepe and setting aside all other cares as she that is euer mindfull of thy statutes I doo watchfullie thinke how I may please thee and keepe thy commandements and how I am woont to preuent the twy-light in the morning with my lowd praiers yea that I am so farre from following the example of the wicked who lie snorting in sin securitie that contrariwise
name onlie is most excellent and his praise aboue heauen and earth Praise the Lord O my soule and all that is within me praise his holie name My mouth shall speake the praises of the Lord and let all flesh giue thanks vnto his holie name for euer and euer Glorie be to the father c. As it was in the c. A Psalme of Gods presence in the Church THE Lord hath chosen Zion to be an habitation for himselfe he hath longed for hir saieng This shall be my rest for euer here will I dwell For I haue a delight therein Behold the Tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwell with them and they shall be his people and God himselfe shall be their God with them The Lord is in his holie Temple euen among thousands of thine Angels as in the holie place of Sinai Gods seate is in heauen the Lord is in the midst of the holie place euen of the Tabernacle of the most high This is Gods hill euen an high hill in the which it pleaseth him to dwell yea the Lord will abide in it for euer As the hilles stand about Ierusalem euen so standeth the Lord round about his people from this time foorth for euermore Glorie be to the Father c. As it was in the c. Another Psalme of the beautie of Gods house and the soules delight to be therein O GOD wonderfull art thou in thy holie places euen thou God of Israel It is well seene O God how thou goest how thou my God and King goest in the Sanctuarie The singers go before the musicians follow after in the midst are the virgins plaieng with the timbrels Thou Lord hast giuen thy word plentiouslie and great is the companie of the preachers The Lord is King he sitteth betweene the Cherubins the Lord is great in Zion and high aboue all people Thou O God art gone vp on high thou hast led captiuitie captiue and receiued gifts for men yea euen for thine enimies that thou Lord mightest dwell among them Righteousnesse and equitie are the habitation of thy seate mercie and truth shall go before thy face Glorie and worship are before thee power and honour are in thy sanctuarie This therefore shall be my resting place here will I dwell O Lord euen in the temple and tabernacle of the mightie God of Israel For I haue a delight therein Lord here is verie good being for vs. For such as bee planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of the house of our God They shall bring foorth more fruit in their age and shall be fat and well liking that they may shew how true thou my Lord and strength art and that there is no vnrighteousnesse in thee Yea blessed is the man whom thou choosest and receiuest vnto thee he shall dwell in thy courts and shall be satisfied with the pleasures of thy house euen of thy holie temple Blessed I saie are they that dwell in thy house they will be alwaie praising thee For in thy temple doth euerie man speake of thine honour and that bicause holinesse becommeth thine house O God for euer This therefore shall be my resting place euen here in thy temple will I dwell For it is a good thing for me to be here continuallie in thy tabernacle before thee my God for euer Yea here doo I wait for thy mercie and louing kindnesse O God euen in the mids of thy temple O when wilt thou come vnto mee that I may walke in thy house with a perfect hart and praise thy name for euer Amen Glorie be to the Father c. As it was in the c. A psalme for the prosperitie of the Church and that all people may praise and blesse the Lord. REturne O Lord to thy many thousands of Israel Arise now I saie to come into thy resting place thou and the arke of thy strength when the people are gathered together and the kingdoms also to serue the Lord. O thou shepheard of Israel thou that sittest vpon the Cherubins be fauourable and gratious vnto Zion build it vp and let thy glorie and worship appeere therein throughout all generations Decke hir priests with health and hir Saints shall reioice and sing Let the priests be clothed with the white reines of righteousnesse and let thy Saints sing Psalmes with ioifulnesse Giue vs thy word still plentiouslie and let the companie of the godlie preachers be great Let none touch thine annointed ones nor doo thy prophets anie harme O Lord saue thy people and giue thy blessing vnto thine inheritance feed them and set them vp for euer Let the congregation of the people come about thee O God that they may offer the sacrifice of righteousnesse and shew foorth thy praises within the ports of the daughter of Zion In this daie of thy power let the people make their humble supplication before thee and offer the free-will offrings with an holie worship In the Temple let euerie man speake of thine honor euerie good man sing of thy praise without ceasing O let the nations reioice and be glad let the people praise thee O God yea let all the people praise thee and all creatures both in heauen and earth blesse thee and saie Blessed be thou O Lord God of our fathers For thou art praise and honor-worthie yea and to be magnified for euermore Blessed be the holie name of thy glorie For it is worthie to be praised and magnified in all worlds Blessed be thou O God in the holie Temple of thy glorie For aboue all things thou art to be praised yea and more than worthie to be magnified for euer Blessed be thou in the throne of thy kingdome For aboue all thou art worthie to be praised and well spoken of and to be more than magnified for euer Blessed be thou that sittest vpon the Cherubims lookest through the deepe For thou art worthie to bee praised and aboue all to be magnified for euer Blessed be thou in the firmament of heauen For thou art praise and honor-worthie for euer Blessed be the Lord God euen the God of Israel which onlie doth woonderous things and blessed bee the name of his Maiestie for euer and the earth shall be filled with thy Maiestie Amen Amen Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time foorth for euermore Blessed I saie be the Lord God of Israel from euerlasting and worlds without end and let all the people saie Amen Amen Blessing and glorie and wisdome and thanks and honour and power and might be vnto our God for euermore Amen Amen Amen A praier to be vsed at your first comming into the Church for a pure and cleane soule SEeing that by the good motion and happie conduction of thy holy spirit O gratious God I am now entred into this thy holy house the Church and most sacred place on earth to worship thee and forasmuch as holines apperteineth to thee O Lord for thou art holie and nothing
I beseech thee vouchsafe to come vnto me and to make me a meet temple for thine holinesse I doo praie the Father through the Sonne I praie the Sonne through the Father I praie the holie Spirit by the Father and the Sonne that all wickednesse may be set far awaie from me and that all the holie vertues may be implanted within me O infinite God of whom through whom and in whom are all things made both visible and inuisible which inclosest thine outward works and fillest thine inward gouernest them aboue and bearest them belowe keepe me the worke of thine hands which trust in thee and hope onlie in thy mercie Keepe me I beseech thee both here and euerie-where now and alwaie within and without before and behind aboue and beneath round about so that there be no place for the snares of the enimie against me Thou art God almightie keeper and protector of all that trust in thee without whom none is in safetie no man is free from danger Thou art God and beside thee there is none other either in heauen aboue or in earth belowe which doost great things and vnsearchable and maruellous things without number Meete it is therefore that thou be praised that thou be honored that thou be magnified with commendations To thee the whole troupe of Angels to thee the heauens and the powers doo sing and continuallie yeeld praises as creatures to their Creator seruants to their Lord souldiers to their King Euerie creature doth extoll and euerie soule doth glorifie thee the holie and vndefiled Trinitie To thee the holie and humble men of hart to thee the spirits and soules of the righteous to thee doo all the supernall citizens together with all the orders of blessed spirits yeeld humble praise and glorie and exalt thee aboue all things for euer O Lord gloriouslie and honourablie doo those heauenlie citizens adorne thee with praises Man also the most excellent among thy creatures doth magnifie thee yea and I too a miserable sinner doo exceedinglie desire to praise thee and greatlie doo I loue to loue thee aboue all things O my God my life my strength and my praise giue me grace to praise thee Put thy light in my hart and thy word into my mouth that both my hart may thinke vpon thy glorie and my tongue sing and speake out thy praises euerie daie But for as much as praise is not seemelie in the mouth of a sinner and I am a woman of polluted lips purge mine hart I beseech thee from all iniquitie sanctifie me both within and without O almightie sanctifier and make me worthie to sound foorth thy praise Receiue in good part from the hand of the hart and from the loue of the mind receiue I praie thee the sacrifice of my lips and let it be acceptable in thy sight and ascend vp vnto thee like a sweete smelling sauour Amen Another MY soule praise thou the Lord and all that is within me praise his holie name My soule praise thou the Lord and forget not all his benefits Praise the Lord all yee his works in all places of his dominion My soule praise thou the Lord. Praise we the Lord whom Angels praise dominions adore powers doo reuerence to whom the Cherubins and Seraphins continuallie doo crie Holie holie holie Ioine we therefore our voices to the voices of the holie Angels and according to our abilitie let vs praise the God which we both haue For they whose eies euermore be fixed vpon the Lord whom they behold not through a glasse darklie but face vnto face they doo most purelie and without ceasing praise the Lord. O Lord that immortall people of thine Angels doo praise thee and the celestiall powers doo magnifie thy name who haue no need either to read this our scripture or to seeke after the knowledge of thee the holie and glorious Trinitie For they alwaies behold thy face where they read without syllables of time what thine eternall pleasure is they read they choose and they loue yea alwaies they read and what they read they forget not By choosing and louing they read this constancie of thy counsell and their booke shall at no time be shut and folded bicause thy selfe art and wilt euerlastinglie be this to them O much blessed are those heauenlie powers that can religiouslie and purelie with an exceeding delight and vnspeakable ioie magnifie thee with praises Thence they praise whence they reioice forsomuch as alwaies they behold that which offereth them continuall occasion both to praise and reioice But we pressed downe with the weight of flesh and placed far awaie from thy countenance in this exile and distracted through varieties of the world we alas are not able woorthilie to praise thee through faith We praise thee not of perfect knowledge but these angelicall spirits praise thee of knowledge not through faith For our flesh is the cause why we praise thee otherwise than they doo Notwithstanding albeit we sing praises to thee after diuers sorts yet thou art but one God Creator of all things to whom is offered the sacrifice of praise both in heauen and in earth But one daie we shall come vnto their companie with whom alwaies we shall see thee and praise thee without ceasing Now then O Lord grant that whiles I doo liue in this fraile bodie both mine hart and my tongue and all my bones may glorifie thee and saie Lord who is like vnto thee Let thine holie memorie and thy blessed sweetnesse possesse my whole soule and rauish me with desire of inuisible things Let my soule I beseech thee passe from visible vnto inuisible from terrestriall vnto heauenlie from transitorie things vnto eternall let it passe I saie and see thy woonderfull vision Thou art God almightie three in persons yet but one in the substance of the Godhead whom we serue and worship namelie the Father vnbegotten the Sonne onlie begotten of the Father the holie Spirit both proceeding from and remaining in them both an holie glorious Trinitie one God almightie which when we were not didst mightilie make vs and when thorough our owne default we were lost mercifullie and maruellouslie hadst deliuered vs. Oh suffer vs not to prooue either vngratefull for so great benefits or vnwoorthie so manifold mercies Unto thee doo I praie sue and beseech increase my faith increase my hope yea and increase my loue also Through the same thy goodnesse make vs to be euermore stable in faith and fruitfull in all good works that by a right faith and works agreeable vnto faith we may come through thy mercie vnto euerlasting life where seeing thy perfect and full glorie euen as it is we may worship thy Maiestie and being made woorthie to behold thy glorie may sing Glorie to the Father who hath made vs. Glorie to the Sonne who hath redeemed vs. Glorie to the holie Ghost that hath sanctified vs. Glorie to the souereigne and blessed Trinitie whose works are vnseparable and whose kingdome hath none end Unto thee
heare the praiers of thy people which they shall make in this place of thy holie temple behold now that thou hast shut vp heauen and there is no raine giuen vnto the earth but a drought doth vtterlie destroie the fruites of the earth for our sinnes and iniquities we come vnto thee and confesse our sinnes wherewith we haue prouoked thee thus to anger against vs and thy creatures for our sakes We I saie whome thou dooest iustlie thus afflict with drought and barrennesse of the earth returne vnto thee with all our harts in fasting weeping and mourning beseeching thee by hartie and earnest praier to haue mercie vpon vs and deale not with vs as we haue righteouslie deserued Heare thou now in heauen and pardon the sinnes of thy seruants and giue raine vnto the land that thou hast giuen the people to inhabit Heare O Lord I saie the crie of man and beast and open the treasures of the heauens and giue vnto vs moderate showres to water the earth that our cattell may bee satisfied and our drought ceasse Oh Lord hast thou vtterlie reiected vs or doth thy soule abhorre thy people for euer that thou hast so long plagued vs with drought and want of water Our iniquities in deede testifie against vs and our rebellions are more than can be numbred For we haue sinned against heauen and against thee and haue beene verie noisome to the earth and all thy creatures therin But O Lord thou hope of Israel thou comfort helpe and sauiour of all that are in trouble haue mercie vpon vs haue mercie vpon vs and doo not abhorre vs nor cast vs off for euer O Lord are there anie among the gods of the Gentiles that can send raine Or can the heauens of themselues giue showres to the earth Is it not onlie thou O Lord our God which hast made heauen and earth and dooest all things by thy mightie power that must doo it O saue the people therefore that call vpon thee O let the daie come wherein thou wilt vouchsafe to heare vs O Lord when I saie thou wilt heare the heauens and the heauens may heare the earth the earth heare the corne and the wine and the oile and they all heare one another and thou heare Israel that thou maist haue mercie vpon vs and cause to come downe for vs the raine euen the first raine and the latter raine in the first and second moneths in due seasons vpon the earth that our barns may be full of wheate and our presses abound with wine and oile our cattell serue to labour by thy blessing that both man beast may cease their mourning and haue cause to reioice in thy mercie Graunt vs this O father for Iesus Christs sake our onlie mediator and aduocate to whome with thee and the holie Ghost be all honor and glorie now and for euer Amen Another praier for the fruits of the earth O Lord God almightie King of heauen and earth which of thine abundant goodnesse doost adorne and replenish the earth with all kind of fruit and graine whereby the life both of man and beast is susteined we beseech thee euen for thy free mercie that thou wouldest vouchsafe to blesse our feelds and ground and to make them prosperouslie to yeeld their corne and increase For without thy blessing and fauour neither can the earth of it selfe bring foorth anie whit nor we by our paines make the same to prosper Wherefore grant to all things springing from the earth a meet temperature of aire that luckilie they may take and increase Keepe our fruit vpon the face of the earth from all infection of the aire from thunder haile from vntimelie showers from too great drinesse and ouermuch heate from woormes hurtfull and beasts deuouring it before their prime and from all other corruption that our land in thine anger be not desolate and denie vs fruit enioieng hir wofull Sabboth Shut not vp the heauens in thine indignation for our sinnes that it be not as iron nor the earth as brasse wherby it can not be tilled ploughed nor sowne and so come to a verie plaine and vtter wildernesse but of thy goodnesse giue vs both the earlie and latter raine that we may haue abundance of all fruit and a ioifull haruest with a plentifull vintage O God send a gratious raine vpon thine inheritance and giue thy blessing that our ground may bring foorth hir fruit Cause thy raine to powre downe in due season that it may be raine of blessing whereby both trees may giue their fruit the ground yeeld foorth hir graine Grant also that the aire be pure from infection our bodies free from sicknesse to our whole Realme peace and quietnesse that safelie without trouble we may enioie thy gifts Driue awaie and repell from vs malediction and the destroier Giue vs not in stead of raine dust and ashes but open thy good treasures and visit the land with thy blessing make it drunken and enrich it abundantlie Thy riuer O Lord is full of water prepare our corne and dispose our earth to prosper water abundantlie the furrowes of the same and cause the raine to descend into the vallies thereof make the same soft with showers and blesse our buds Crowne the yeere with thy goodnesse and let thy clouds drop fatnesse let them drop vpon the pastures of the wildernesse and make the little hils reioice on euerie side Let the plaines be replenished with sheepe and the vallies with corne that the inhabitants of the earth may reioice and be merie O Lord thou causest grasse to growe for cattell and herbs for y e vse of man thou bringest foorth bread out of the earth wine to make glad the hart of man oile to make the countenance cheerfull bread for to strengthen the hart Haue therefore a care O heauenlie Father of the seed and other things springing from the earth keepe them both in cold raine ice and snowe from the beating of winds and iniurie of weather Preserue them in extreame heat drinesse moistnesse and such like that they perish not afore their time Roote out the destroier that there be neither blasting mildew nor grashopper neither caterpiller hurting the fruits 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 and Creator which satisfiest the thirstie soule and fillest the hungrie with goodnesse which hast said I will not faile neither forsake thee whereby being faithfull we may saie The Lord is with vs therefore we will not feare what man can doo vnto vs. Behold we miserable great sinners doo confesse our wickednes with groning griefe of hart crieng vnto thee which art in heauen Heare our praiers in thy dwelling place be mercifull to thy people which haue sinned against thee and forgiue vs all our iniquities wherein we haue transgressed against thee By our sinnes wee haue brought all these
for not worthilie preparing themselues and for misvsing the Sacrament of the bodie and bloud of our Sauiour Iesus Christ and manie died thereof as thine holie Apostle Saint Paule hath taught vs. Since which time O Lord as the Monuments of thy Church and other Chronicles doo declare thou hast from time to time so plagued with pestilence not onelie cities but also whole countries for these and other like causes that we may iustlie looke for the comming of our Sauiour so manie and so horrible pestilences haue beene among vs alreadie All which causes O Lord for the which thou hast so afflicted thy people are through the malice of Satan and our wilfull consenting vnto him growne so ripe in vs that were it not for the exceeding greatnes of thy mercie and compassion we should all presentlie perish and that woorthilie so horrible and outragious are our iniquities For we loath not onelie the plentifull prouision of wholesome victuals and apparell which thou hast giuen vs for our bodies more abundantlie than to manie nations trauelling by all meanes to get wherewith to pamper our flesh with wines spices silks and other vaine costlie and delighting things but the pretious Manna of our soules thy holie word and Sacraments we can not awaie with we are so full that we are glutted therewith We so little esteeme the heauenlie kingdome which our Sauiour hath so deerlie prepared and kindlie promised to vs that we abhor it and are readie to stone those few that commend it and exhort vs for our owne good to trauell thitherward better liking and crediting those false prophets the Epicures and Atheists that with their lies discourage vs therefrom What murmuring and grudging make we against the ministers of thy word which thou of thine especiall goodnesse hast in mercie giuen vs How despise wee our bishops preachers and other ministers of thy holie Sacraments whom thou hast commanded vs to reuerence and honour Did not we through our wicked liues wretchedlie leese the Arke of thy holie word and the true ministration of Sacraments not manie yeeres agone which the popish Philistines tooke from vs And now when thou through thy plagues laid vpon them hast miraculouslie sent it againe see how hold we be with the Beth-samites vnreuerentlie to receiue it For manie make of it a gazing-stocke to serue their eies and tongues rather than a lawe to obeie and followe in their liues Yea the knowledge of thy truth goodnesse and mercie breedeth in manie of vs a carelesse securitie and a contempt of thy holie ordinances For we presume vpon thy mercie and promises not regarding the conditions nor anie of thy commandements which in our baptisme we vowed to obserue Yea we make thy Gospell a cloke of our couetousnesse vnder colour whereof we seeke our owne lucre and hide all our wicked and filthie practises If the Corinthians deserued to be plagued for abusing thy holie Sacraments how much more are wee woorthie of fierce wrath that not onelie abuse it but also abhor contemne it bicause it is ministred as it ought For thou knowest O Lord what a sort there are which bewitched with the diuell and the Popes doctrine doo vtterlie abhor Christs holie communion and sauing for feare of the lawe would neuer come at it In what sort these receiue and how they be prepared is not vnknowne vnto thee How rashlie also and vnaduisedlie and vnprepared the common multitude doo frequent it partlie appeareth in that manie of them neuer forgiue old offences nor reconcile themselues nor in anie thing doo amend their old sinnes and vices Seeing then that we Lord the common sort and multitude doo thus abound in all kind of wickednesse how can it be but that thou of thy iustice must suffer our magistrates to offend also in somewhat to the end thou maist iustlie take vengeance of our sinnes For these manifold heapes of sinnes and wickednesses O Lord thou hast iustlie at this present sent this dangerous pestilence among vs as thou hast often and long time threatened by the mouthes of thy faithfull preachers who continuallie haue called vpon vs to staie thy wrath by earnest repentance amendement of life but we haue alwaies beene deafer and deafer The delight in our sinnes not onlie stopped our eares but also hardened our harts against their hartie and friendlie admonitions And in that we now O Lord doo begin to feele and acknowledge our sinnes it commeth more of thy rigour in plaguing vs than of anie good inclination of our selues Mollifie therefore O Lord our flintie harts with the suppling moisture of thy holie spirit Make vs to reuerence thee as children for loue of thy mercies and not to dread thee like slaues for feare of punishment Seruants Amen Maister or Maistres O deere Father reclaime vs thy lost children O mercifull Sauiour pitie vs thy putrified members O holie Ghost repaire vs thy decaied temples O holie and glorious Trinitie haue mercie vpon vs miserable sinners Seruants Amen Maister Grant vs O Lord such true repentance as may through the bloud of our Sauiour blot out the staines of our heinous iniquities Forgiue vs our sinnes O Lord forgiue vs our sinnes for thine infinite mercies sake Seruants Amen Maister Forgiue vs our blasphemies idolatries and periuries Forget our vaine and outragious oths As thou hast by thy rigour and plagues forced vs to acknowledge thee to be our iust and righteous Lord so let vs through thy mercie and forgiuenesse feele thee to be our mild louing Father and giue vs grace for euer hereafter to reuerence this thy glorious name Seru. Amen Maister Take from vs O God the care of worldlie vanities Make vs content with necessaries Plucke awaie our harts from delighting in honours treasures and pleasures of this life And ingender in vs a desire to be with thee in thine eternall kingdome Giue vs O Lord such taste and feeling of thine vnspeake able ioies in heauen that we may alwaie long therfore saieng with thine elect Hasten thy kingdome O Lord take vs to thee Seru. Amen Maister Make vs O Lord obedient to thy will reuealed in thy holie word Make vs diligent to walke in thy commandements Forgiue vs our contempt and murmuring against the magistrates and ministers whom thou hast in thy mercie appointed make vs obedient vnto their godlie lawes doctrine Saue and preserue O Lord thine annointed our QVEENE ELIZABETH that she in thy grace and feare may long reigne amongst vs. Giue peace to all Christian nations Mooue vs by thy spirit to loue one another as the members of our bodie that we may all doo thy will in earth as it is in heauen Seru. Amen Maister Dig out of vs O Lord the venemous roots of couetousnesse and concupiscence or else so represse them with thy grace that we may be contented with thy prouision of necessaries and not to labour as we doo with toile strength guile wrong and oppression to pamper our selues with vaine superfluities Feed our soules O
from the Father of lights and from his Sonne our Lord Iesu Christ with whom thou reignest and art glorified most singularlie being of one substance coequall and coeternall with them in the essence of one and the same Trinitie I knowe thee Father Sonne and holie Ghost to be one a liuing and a verie God three I confesse in persons yet but one in essence whom I acknowledge worship and glorifie with mine whole hart being the true God the onlie God holie immortall inuisible vnchangable whom no man can either attaine vnto or find out This God I acknowledge to be one light one sunne one bread one life one happinesse one beginning one end one Creator both of heauen and earth by whom all things doo liue by whom all things subsist by whom all things are gouerned ruled and quickened both the things in heauen and the things in earth things vnder the earth besides whom there is no God neither in heauen nor in earth Thus knowe I thee O blessed Trinitie my Lord God who knowest me Thus knowe I thee through the faith which thou hast inspired to me I knowe thee O my light the sight of mine eies O Lord my GOD the hope of all the ends of the earth the ioie reioicing my youth and the good susteining mine age For in thee O Lord all my bones reioice saieng O Lord who is like to thee Among the gods who is like to thee Not that whom the hands of men haue made but thou who hast made the hands of men The idols of the nations are siluer and gold euen the works of mens hands so is not he which made man All the gods of the people are idols but the Lord made the heauens Let those gods which made not the heauens and the earth perish from the earth and from vnder these heauens but let both heauen and earth praise him which created both earth and heauen Amen A zealous praier vnto the blessed Trinitie WHerefore O Lord my faith which thou hast giuen me to my saluation calleth vnto thee For the faithfull soule liueth by faith he enioieth in hope which one daie he shall behold in thee O my God vnto thee crieth my pure conscience and the sweet loue of my faith which the darkenes of ignorance being driuen away thou hast brought vnto the knowledge of the truth which also thou hast plucked from the foolish bitternes of this world and made comfortable and pleasant to me through thy sweet loue Unto thee O blessed Trinitie doth the cleere voice and sincere loue of my faith call the which nourishing the same from the cradle thou hast inlightned alwaie by the light of thy grace confirmed mightilie in me through the instructions of our mother the Church Unto thee doo I call O happie blessed glorious and single Trinitie Father Sonne and holie Ghost God Lord and Comforter loue grace and communion the begetter the begotten the renewer the verie light of the verie light the verie illumination the spring the floud and the watering of one all through one all in one all things of whome through whome and in whome are all things The liuing life the life from the liuing the quickener of such as liue One of himselfe one of one one of two A being of himselfe a being of another a being from both The Father is true the Sonne truth and the holie Ghost truth so that the Father the Word the Comforter are one essence one power one goodnes and one blessednes of whom through whome and in whome all things be blessed whatsoeuer things are blessed I beseech thee therefore that as thou hast giuen me grace by the confession of a true faith to acknowledge the glorie of the eternall Trinitie and in the power of the diuine maiestie to worship the vnitie so grant that through the stedfastnesse of this faith I may euermore be preserued comforted defended in all my troubles aduersities which liuest and reignest three persons and one God blessed for euer Amen Another deuout praier to the holie Trinitie WIth all my hart and mouth doo I confesse praise blesse thee O God the Father vnbegotten and thee O God the Sonne onlie begotten also thee O holie Ghost Comforter to thee be glorie in the world of worlds Amen O blessed Trinitie thou three coequall and coeternall persons and one verie God the Father Sonne and holie Ghost who dwellest alone in euerlastingnes and in vnapprochable light which hast founded the earth by thy mightie power and rulest the whole world by thy wisedome Holie holie holie Lord God of hoasts dreadfull strong righteous mercifull maruellous praise-woorthie to be beloued one God three persons one being power wisedome goodnes and one vnspeakable Trinitie I crie vnto thee Open me the gates of righteousnes and when I am come in I will praise thee O Lord. Behold I poore begger knocke at thy doore O souereigne housholder command the gates to be opened at my knocking according as thou hast said Knocke yee and it shall be opened For trulie O most mercifull Father the desires of my groning hart and the cries of my weeping eies doo knocke at thy doore All my desire is before thee and my groning is not hid from thee Lord turne not thy face anie more awaie from me neither fling thou awaie from thy seruant in a fume O Father of mercies heare the howling out of thy Ward and reach hir thy singular good helping hand that it may drawe me out of the deepe waters and out of the lake of miserie and out of the mire of filthines that I perish not thy pitifull eies seeing it and the bowels of thy mercie beholding it but that I may wade out vnto thee my Lord God so as I may see the riches of thy kingdome and alwaies behold thy face and sing praises to thy holie name O Lord which workest woonders which cheerest my hart with remembring thee and which inlightenest my youth despise not mine old age but make my bones to reioice and my hoarie heares to waxe fresh againe as the Eagle A Thanks-giuing WE lift vp our harts vnto thee O Lord for it is verie meet right and our bounden duties that we should at all times and in all places giue thanks to thee O God almightie and euerlasting God which art one God one Lord not one onelie person but three persons in one substance For that which we beleeue of the glorie of the Father the same we beleeue of the Sonne and of the holie Ghost without anie difference or inequalitie Therefore with Angels and Archangels and with all the companie of heauen we laud and magnifie thy glorious name euermore praising thee and saieng Holie holie holie Lord God of hoasts heauen and earth are full of thy glorie Glorie be to thee O Lord most high and in earth peace good will towards men We praise thee we blesse thee we woorship thee we glorifie thee we giue thanks to thee for thy great glorie O
inrollment of their condigne praises and memorable dooings to all posterities but especiallie for that I might hereby as much as in me lieth incourage prouoke and allure all godlie women of our time in some measure according to their seueral gifts giuen them of God to become euen from their youth more studious imitators and diligent folowers of so godlie and rare examples in their vertuous mothers that as they either in sex name or estate are equall with them so in learning wisedome good industrie and in all holie studies and vertuous exercises commendable for women they would dailie endeuour themselues to become like them that so being lightened by their good examples both of life and doctrine they may shine also together with them on earth as burning lampes of verie virginitie and in heauen as bright starres of eternall glorie which God for his owne name sake grant Amen VVhat ceremonie euerie woman ought by Gods word to vse in the time of praier publike or priuate 1. Corinth chapter II verse 4 c. EVerle man praieng or prophesieng hauing anie thing on his head dishonoureth God his head but euerie woman that praieth or prophesieth bare headed dishonoureth hir husband hir head For it is euen one verie thing as though she were shauen Therefore if the woman be not couered let hir also be shorne and if it be a shame for a woman to be shorne or polled as in deed it is then for shame let hir be couered and keepe hir haire trussed vp vnder a kercher For a man ought not to couer his head but ought to be polled and bare for somuch as he is the image and glorie of God in whom his maiestie and power dooth shine concerning his authoritie ouer his wife and other of Gods creatures subiected vnder his dominion and rule But the woman is the glorie of the man or receiueth hir glorie in commendation of man and therefore is subiect for the man is not of the woman but the woman of the man neither was the man created for the womans sake but the woman for the mans sake Therefore ought the woman to haue power on hir head that is some thing to couer hir head in signe of subiection bicause of the angels to whom also they shew their dissolution and shame and not onelie to Christ and his church or congregation where they praie Iudge you in your selues also is it comelie that a woman praie vnto God bare headed Dooth not nature it selfe teach you that if a man haue long haire like a woman it is a shame vnto him but if a woman haue long haire it is a praise vnto hir for hir haire is giuen vnto hir for a couering and to the end she should trusse it vp about hir head to declare that she must couer hir head But if anie man list to be contentious we haue no such custome neither the church of God ¶ The first Lampe of Virginitie conteining the diuine PRAIERS HYMNES or SONGS made by sundrie holie women in the Scripture something explaned in the hardest places for the better vnderstanding and edifieng of the vnlearned Reader and first The praier of Hagar the handmaid of Sarai which she made in hir trouble and banishment wherein she rebuketh hir owne dulnesse and acknowledgeth Gods graces who was present with hir euerie-where Genesis 16 13. THou GOD lookest on me haue I not also looked here after him that seeth me The song of thankesgiuing of Moses which Myriam the Prophetesse and sister of Aaron together with all the women sang vpon Timbrels to the praise of God for the people of Israëls deliuerance out of the hands of Pharao c. Exodus 15 1. SIng ye vnto the Lord for he hath triumphed gloriouslie the horse and his rider hath he ouer throwne in the sea The Lord is our strength and praise and he is become our saluation he is our God and we will glorifie him hee is our fathers God and we will exalt him The Lord is a man of war Iehouah is his name in battell he stil ouer commeth is euer mindfull of his promise Pharaos chariots and his host hath hee cast into the sea his chosen captaines also are drowned in the red sea The deepe waters haue couered them they sunke to the bottome as a stone Thy right hand Lord is become glorious in power thy right hand O Lord hath all to dashed the enimie And in thy great glorie thou hast ouerthrowne them that rose vp against thee thou sentest foorth thy wrath which consumed them as the stubble Through the blast of thy nostrils the waters gathered together the fluds stood still as an heape and the deep waters congealed together in the hart or depth of the sea The enimie said I will pursue them I will ouertake them I will diuide the spoile and my lust shall be satisfied vpon them I will drawe my sword mine hand shall destroie them Thou didst blowe with thy winde the sea couered them they sanke as led in the mightie waters Who is like vnto thee O Lord among the gods or mightie men of the world Who is like thee so glorious in holinesse fearefull in praises shewing woonders Thou stretchest out thy right hand the earth swalowed them Thou in thy mercie hast caried this people which thou hast redeemed and deliuered and thou wilt bring them in thy strength vnto thine holie habitation the land of Canaan or Mount Zion The people and nations shall heare and be afraid sorowe shall come vpon the inhabitants of Palestina Then the Dukes of the Edomites shall be amazed and trembling shall come vpon the great and mightiest men of the Moabites all the inhabitants of Canaan shall waxe faint harted Feare and dread shall fall vpon them bicause of the greatnes of thine arme or power they shall be as still as a stone till thy people passe through O Lord till this people passe through which thou hast gotten or purchased Thou shalt bring them in and plant them in the mountaine of thine inheritance which is Mount Zion the place Lord that thou hast made and prepared for to dwell in euen the sanctuarie O Lord which thine hands shall establish The Lord shall reigne for euer and euer For Pharao on horsebacke went with his chariots and horsemen into the sea and the Lord brought the waters of the sea vpon them but the children of Israel went on drieland in the mids of the sea Sing ye therefore vnto the Lord for he hath triumphed gloriouslie the horse and him that rode vpon him hath he ouerthrowne in the sea The song or thankesgiuing of Deborah and Barak after the victorie giuen of God by the hands of Iaël against Sisera Iudges 5 2. PRaise ye the Lord for the auenging of Israel and for the people of Zabulon and Nepthali that offred themselues gladly and became so willing to resist their enimies Heare O ye kings harken O ye princes I euen I will sing vnto the Lord I will sing praise
them among princes and to make them inherit the seate of glorie for the pillers of the earth are the Lords and he hath set the world vpon them therefore he may dispose all things at his pleasure and prefer whom he will to honour He will keepe the feete of his Saints so that they shall neither walke nor fall into any euill the wicked shall keepe silence in darkenesse for in his owne might shall no man be strong The Lords aduersaries shall be destoried and out of heauen shall he thunder vpon them y e Lord shall iudge the ends of the world and shall giue power vnto his king Iesus exalt the horne of Christ his annointed The song of the women of Israël in the praise of Dauids victorie ouer Goliah 1. Samuel 18 7. SAule hath slaine his thousand and Dauid his ten thousand The praier or wish of Abigaël for king Dauid against his enimies 1. Samuel 25 24 OH my Lord I haue committed the iniquitie and I praie thee let thine handmaid speake vnto thee and heare thou the words of thine handmaid Let not my Lord I praie thee regard this wicked man Nabal for as his name is so is he Nabal is his name and follie is with him but I thine handmaid sawe not the yoong men of my Lord whome thou sentest Now therefore my Lord as the Lord liueth as thy soule liueth the Lord I say that hath withholden thee from comming to shed blood and that thine hand should not saue thee nor reuenge thée on thine enimies So now I pray God that thine enimies and they that intend to doo my Lord euill may be as Nabal and I praie thee forget the trespasse of thine handmaid c. The song of Sion or the familiar talke and mysticall communication or diuine dialogue of the speciall loue betwene the spirituall bridegrome Iesus Christ and the bride the faithful soule his sanctified chaste and holie spouse the Church commonlie called The Song of songs or Ballat of ballats made by king Salomon Cantic 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9. The Church or faithfull soule speaketh to Christ O That thou wouldest kisse me with the kisses of thy mouth euen with thy peace which passeth all vnderstanding for thy loue O Christ is better and more pleasant vnto me than wine and that bicause of the good and pleasant sauour of thy most pretious balmes or ointments euen of thy great benefits which I taste and féele from thée Thy name O Christ is as a sweet smelling ointment when it is powred out and shed foorth thy mercie is set foorth and published by preaching thy Gospell therefore the Uirgins euen they that are pure in hart and conuersation doo loue thee Drawe thou me O swéete Christ vnto thee and wee will run after thee for otherwise I confesse we can not come to thée except we be drawne of thée The King hath brought me into his priuie chambers and reuealed vnto me the secret ioies not knowne to the world we will therefore be glad and reioice in thee yea wee thinke more of thy loue than of wine For they that be righteous loue thee aboue all things I am blacke I confesse through the spots of sinne persecution and troubles O ye daughters of Ierusalem but yet comelie faire and welfauoured through faith in the blood of Christ in whose fauour I haue confidence and trust as the fruites or tents of the Kedarens or Arabians and as the hangings or curtens of Salomon which within were all set with pretious stones and iewels Maruell not therfore at me bicause I am so blacke nor regard or consider me by the outward apperance for why the sunne euen the corruption of nature through sinne and affliction hath looked and shined vpon me Yea and my mothers children euen mine owne brethren which should haue most fauoured me were angrie against me and hauing euill will at mee they made me the keeper of the vineyards but mine owne vineyard haue I not kept such alas hath béene mine owne negligence Therefore féeling my faults and imperfections I flie now vnto thée O Christ my spirituall husband onlie for succour beséeching thée and saieng Tell me O thou whom my soule loueth where thou feedest the sheepe O shew me I saie where thou liest and makest them rest at the noon day for why should I be like hir that turneth aside or goeth wrong about the flocks of thy companions whome thou hast called to the dignitie of pastors in thy Church and yet they like apostataes not onelie set foorth their owne false dreames and traditions in stéed of thy true doctrine but also are become the domesticall enimies that persecute the Church Christ speaketh to his Church or the faithfull soule O Thou the fairest among women if thou knowe not thy selfe but art ignorant in my waies then go thy way foorth after the footsteps of the flock of sheepe euen after the doctrine of the Apostles and feede thy goates and kids by the tents of the shepheards and learne of the true pastors and spirituall doctors I haue compared thee O my loue vnto the troupe of horses in the chariots of Pharao bicause that for thy spirituall beautie and excellencie there was no worldlie treasure to be compared vnto thée Thy cheekes and thy neck are beautifull as the turtles and behanged with spangles chaines and goodly iewels a neckband also imbrodered with gold and studs or buttons of siluer will I make thee The Church WHen the King sitteth at the table and is at his repast hee shall smell my Nardus or spikenard for I reioice that I am admitted to the companie of my husband Christ yea my welbeloued is as a bundle of Mirrh vnto mee and he shall lie betwixt my brests for he is most déere vnto me my welbeloued I saie is as a cluster of Camphire vnto me in the vineyards of Engedi wherfore so long as I followe my Christ I can not erre from the true faith of saluation CHRIST O How faire art thou my loue Oh how faire art thou Thine eies are like the dooues eies behold most acceptable art thou vnto me and I commend thy beautie The Church OH how faire art thou also my beloued How welfauoured and pleasant art thou Our bed euen the hart of the faithfull where thou O Christ dwellest by thy spirit is all greene bedecked with flowers the beames or seelings of our house are of Cedar trees and our crosse ioints of Cipresse I am the rose of the field and the lillie of the vallies CHRIST YEa like as the lillie among the thornes so is my loue among the daughters for my Church is to be preferred before aboue all other things yea so am I also among mine enimies The Church LIke as the apple tree among the trees of the forest so is my welbeloued among the sonnes of men I can not but testifie my loue and great desire towards him for my delight is to sit and rest vnder his
humblie yeeld our selues vnder the mightie hand of God our Creator LOrd and holie Father be thou blessed now and euer For as thou wilt so it is done and that thou dooest is alwaie best Let me thine humble and vnwoorthie seruant ioie onelie in thee and not in my selfe ne in anie thing else besides thee For thou Lord art my gladnes my hope my crowne and all mine honour What hath thy seruant but that she hath of thee and that without hir desert All things be thine thou hast created and made them I am poore and haue beene in trouble and paine euer from my youth and my soule hath beene in great heauinesse through manifold passions that come of the world and of the flesh Wherefore Lord I desire that I may haue of thee the ioie of inward peace I aske of thee to come to that rest which is ordeined for thy chosen children that be fed and nourished with the light of heauenlie comforts For without thy helpe I can not come to thee Lord giue me peace giue me inward ioie and then my soule shall be full of heauenlie melodie and be deuout and feruent in thy lauds and praises But if thou withdrawe thy selfe from me as thou hast sometime done then may not thy seruant runne the waie of thy commandements as I did before For it is not with me as it was when the Lampe of thy ghostlie presence did shine vpon my head and I was defended vnder the shadowe of thy wings from all perils and dangers O mercifull Lord Iesu euer to be praised the time is come that thou wilt prooue thy seruant and rightfull it is that I shall now suffer somewhat for thee Now is the houre come that thou hast knowne from the beginning that thy seruant for a time should outwardlie be set at naught and inwardlie to leane vnto thee And that she should be despised in the sight of the world and be broken with affliction that she may after arise with thee in a new light and be clarified and made glorious in the kingdome of heauen O holie father thou hast ordeined it so to be and it is done as thou hast commanded This is thy grace O Lord to thy freend to suffer hir to be troubled in this world for thy loue how often so euer it be and of what person so euer it be and in what maner soeuer thou wilt suffer it to fall vnto hir For without thy will or sufferance what thing is done vpon the earth It is good to me O Lord that thou hast meekened me that I may therby learne to knowe thy righteous iudgements to put from me all maner of presumption and statelinesse of hart It is verie profitable for me that confusion hath couered my face that I may learne thereby rather to seeke to thee for helpe and succour than to man I haue thereby learned to dread thy secret and terrible iudgements which scourgest the righteous with the sinner but not without equitie and iustice Lord I yeeld thanks to thee that thou hast not spared my sinnes but hast punished me with scourges of loue and hast sent me affliction and anguish within and without No creature vnder heauen may comfort me but thou Lord God the heauenlie leach of mans soule which strikest and healest which bringest a man nigh vnto death and after restorest him to life againe that he may thereby learne to knowe his owne weakenesse and imbecillitie the more fullie to trust in the Lord. Thy discipline is laid vpon me and thy rod of correction hath taught me and vnder that rod I wholie submit me Strike my backe and my bones as it shall please thee and make me to bow my crooked will to thy will Make me a meeke and an humble disciple as thou hast sometime done with me that I may walke after thy will To thee I commit my selfe to be corrected For better it is to be corrected by thee heere than in time to come Thou knowest all things and nothing is hid from thee that is in mans conscience Thou knowest all things to come before they fall it is not needfull that anie man teach thee or warne thee of anie thing that is done vpon the earth Thou knowest what is profitable for me and how much tribulations helpe to purge awaie the rust of sinne in me Doo with me after thy pleasure I am a sinfull wretch to none so well knowne as to thee Grant me Lord that to knowe that is necessarie to be knowne that to loue that is to be loued that to desire that pleaseth thee that to regard that is pretious in thy sight and that to refuse that is vile before thee Suffer me not to iudge thy mysteries after mine outward senses ne to giue sentence after the hearing of the ignorant but by true iudgement to discerne things spirituall and aboue all things alwaie to search and followe thy will and pleasure O Lord Iesu thou art all my riches and all that I haue I haue it of thee But what am I Lord that dare speake to thee I am thy poore creature and a worme most abiect Behold Lord I haue naught and of my selfe I am naught worth Thou art onlie God righteous and holie thou orderest all things thou giuest all things and thou fulfillest all things with goodnesse I am a sinner barren and void of godlie vertues Remember thy mercies and fill my hart with plentie of thy grace For thou wilt not that thy works in me should be made in vaine How may I beare the miserie of this life except thy grace and mercie do comfort me Turne not thy face from me deferre not the visiting of me ne withdrawe not thy comforts least happilie my soule be made as drie earth without the water of grace Teach me Lord to fulfill thy will to liue meekelie and worthilie before thee For thou art all my wisdome and cunning thou art he that knowest me as I am that knewest me before the world was made before I was borne or brought into this life To thee O Lord be honour glorie and praise for euer and euer Amen ¶ A certaine effectuall praier made by the Ladie Jane Dudley in the time of hir trouble a little before hir death O Lord thou GOD and father of my life heare mee poore and desolate Woman which flieth vnto thee onelie in all my troubles and miseries Thou O Lord art the onlie defender and deliuerer of those that put their trust in thee And therefore I being defiled with sinne incumbred with affliction vnquieted with troubles wrapped in cares ouerwhelmed with miseries vexed with temptations and greeuouslie tormented with the long imprisonment of this vile masse of claie my sinfull bodie and bloud do come vnto thee O mercifull Sauiour crauing thy mercie and helpe without the which so little hope of deliuerance is left that I may vtterlie despaire of anie libertie Albeit it is expedient that seeing our life standeth vpon trieng we
aboue the loue of my selfe that I may loue nothing to thy displeasure but euerie thing in a due order to thee Giue me good Lord a longing to be with thee not for the auoiding of the calamities of this wretched world nor so much for the auoiding of the paines of hell neither so much for the obteining of the kingdome of heauen in respect of mine owne commoditie as euen for verie loue of thee And beare me good Lord thy loue fauour which thing my loue to thee-ward were it neuer so gret could not but of thy great goodnes deserue And pardon me good Lord that am so bold to aske thee so high petitions being so vile and sinfull a wretch and so vnworthie to attaine the lowest but good Lord such they be as I am bound to desire and wish and should be much neerer the effectuall desire of them if my manifold sinnes were not the let from which O glorious Trinitie vouchsafe of thy goodnesse to wash me with that blessed bloud that thou my sweet sauiour Iesus Christ diddest shed out of thy bodie in the diuers torments of thy most bitter passion that by that same greeuous passion glorious resurrection and ascension I may come to that vnspeakable ioie the which thou hast prepared for thy chosen and elect through the same Iesu Christ our sauiour to whome with the Father and the holie Ghost three persons and one God be all honour and glorie world without end So be it After praier saie this conclusion or Collect. O God that art the strength of such as trust in thee mercifullie assist vs that call vpon thy name and for asmuch as mans infirmitie can do nothing without thee grant I most humblie beseech thee the help of thy spirit that fulfilling thy commandements both in will and deed I may please thee through Iesus Christ our Lord So be it The blessing OH Lord blesse me and defend me O Lord lift vp thy countenance ouer me and be mercifull vnto me O Lord lift vp thy countenance ouer me and giue me thy peace that in thy peace O Lord I may depart to amend my life and doo vnto the poore as much as I can giue me grace to be at vnitie in quietnesse and in charitie with all thy chosen and elect people and that thy feare oh Lord may euer rest in my hart So be it Praise vnto God the Father and peace vnto the liuing As they that depart in thy faith in thée doo rest haue their being The end of Morning praier EVENING PRAIER ¶ A Confession to be said before Euening praier O Father of heauen O sonne of God redeemer of the world O holie Ghost three persons and one God haue mercie vpon me most wretched caitife and miserable sinner I haue offended both heauen earth more than my tongue can expresse My sinnes alas are aboue all mens both in number and greatnesse which I haue committed Whither then may I go Or whither should I flie To heauen I may be ashamed to lift vp my face and in earth I am not woorthie to find a place of refuge or succour To thee therefore O Lord doo I run to thee doo I humble my selfe saieng O Lord my God my sinnes be great and innumerable but yet haue mercie vpon me for thy great mercie The great mysterie that God became man was not wrought for little or few offences Thou didst not giue thy sonne O heauenlie Father vnto death for small sinnes onlie but for all the greatest sinnes in the world so that the sinner returne vnto thee with his whole hart as I doo here at this present Wherefore haue mercie vpon me O God whose propertie is alwaie to haue mercie wherefore haue mercie vpon me O Lord for thy great mercie I craue nothing O Lord for mine owne merits but for thy name sake that it may be halowed therby and for thy deere sonne Iesus Christs sake and now therefore Our father of heauen halowed c. A praier to be said in the Euening MOst mercifull and heauenly father I thanke thee by thy sonne Iesus Christ that this day thou hast giuen me all things needfull both for my soule and bodie preseruing me from all hurt and perill I aske thee mercie for mine offences and I most humblie beseech thee that thou wilt likewise this night keepe me from sinne and all euill so that all my thoughts my words works may please thee I doo commit my selfe both bodie and soule and all that I go about into thy hands I beseech thee that thy holie spirit may be with me least my deadlie aduersarie haue anie power ouer me Amen Another Euening praier O Souereigne dreadfull and most louing Lord my God who neuer ceasest to shew thy mercie towards sinners yea when they offend and trespasse against thee such is thine infinite clemencie and loue As then thou forbearest not to heape thy benefits vpon them I most sinfull and wretched wretch yeeld thee humble thanks for thine inestimable goodnesse shewed towards me in creating me to thine owne likenesse and making me capable of thine euerlasting glorie for the creation of so manie other creatures for my behoofe and sustenance for that inestimable worke of my redemption whereby thou deliuerest me from the slauerie of Sathan and purchasest mee free entrance into thy celestiall region for hauing singled me amongst so many millians that knowe thee not and lie drowned in ignorance superstition and miserable errours to be thy seruant and a true faithfull Christian for both thy blessed Sacraments especiallie for that Sacrament aboue all Sacraments wherein thou thy selfe art spirituallie conteined Finallie for hauing preserued me so manie times from hell wherein I had beene long since plunged hadst not thou of thine vnspeakeable goodnesse susteined and deliuered me from my foes For these and all other thy benefits namelie for those thou hast this daie most bountifullie bestowed vpon me O my souereigne Lord I yeeld thee such sincere dutifull thanks as my poore hart can possiblie affoord thee beseeching thee to haue mercie vpon me in supplie of my wants to accept the mediation and thankesgiuings of Iesus Christ thy onelie sonne and mine onelie Sauiour and intercessour And now mine onlie redeemer and Sauiour I humblie craue the light of thy grace to knowe wherein I haue this daie anie waies offended thee by nature and that by sound discussion and through examination of my conscience I may see mine owne sinnes with sorrowe and detestation and thine ineffable mercie with a zealous firme purpose of amendment of life Thou seest O Lord my lewdnesse and wotest my miserie much better than I my selfe doo Sorie I am with all my hart that I should still offend so louing a Lord and wish to God my sorowes were greatlie multiplied I purposed earst to doo better by thy grace which wanted not yet haue I transgressed in my former trespasses neither yet may I despaire O Lord but will continuallie trust
for our offences Indue vs with loue and charitie to all men make vs readie to forgiue to loue and pardon our enimies persecutors and slanderers Turne our harts minds from all impietie couetousnesse blasphemie pride gluttonie fornication and all other detestable euils And if at anie time we haue defeated the fatherlesse of his right the widowe of hir dowrie or gathered togither our goods wrongfullie by violence oppression fraud collusion or deceit giue vs grace to make restitution and to aske with sorowfull plaints and fluds of teares from the bottome of our harts pardon and free forgiuenesse of thee for such and all other our offences whatsoeuer wee haue done or committed in thought word will and deed against thy diuine Maiestie or anie other our brethren and sisters Take awaie from vs ali bitternes cursed speaking and backbiting Giue vs grace to come woorthilie by the vertue of a true and fruitfull faith to this holie and blessed supper that our soules feeding faithfullie on thy sweetest flesh and drinking thy deerest bloud wee may both in bodie and soule be nourished by thee to euerlasting and endlesse glorie in heauen where with thee and the felowship of thy chosen Saints we shall enioie the fruition of the euerlasting kingdome which thou hast ordeined for all those that ouelie and alone without wauering doo build vpon thee Sanctifie and make cleane our harts and minds by the power of thy holie Ghost the verie comforter of thy chosen Purge thou our cankred consciences infected with sinne by the working of thy good grace least that by the presuming to this thy table O Lord we incur thy displeasure and being vnrepentant for our offences we be found vnmeet ghests to come to thy holie banket and so we eate and drinke to the vtter confusion of our soules and bodies Giue vs grace therefore good Lord to conuert vs wholie vnto thee and we shall be turned from all our sinne and iniquitie Giue vs grace to rest onlie vpon thee and we shall be made safe Giue vs thine aid from aboue we beseech thee by faith to striue with the man of sinne and so to vanquish him that he may die to vs and we may liue to thee which art the giuer of life Grant this O most gratious God for Iesus Christ his sake to whom with thee and the holie Ghost be giuen all praise honour and glorie for euer and euer Amen A praier or thankesgiuing to be said after the receiuing of the Communion WE giue thee most hartie thanks O heauenlie Father that hast at this present fed vs and refreshed our hungrie soules with the flesh and bloud of our Sauiour Christ not carnallie but spirituallie Giue vs grace therefore continuallie by the meanes of an increasing and fruitfull faith to beleeue that thy flesh is meate indeed and thy bloud is drinke indeed and that vnneths we eate thy flesh and drinke thy bloud we can not enter into thy kingdome nor be saued in the daie of thy comming Giue vs grace therefore being vnprofitable seruants and vnwoorthilie called by the reason of the multitude of our sinnes to banket at thy table whereas the celebration of thy supper hath beene vsed and thy death by the visible elements of bread and wine represented vnto vs to offer vp vnto thee continuallie the fruits of true repentant and sorowfull harts that thy name may be glorified we by thy grace comforted thy displeasure turned to loue thy wrath to compassion our sinnes pardoned and forgotten and our names written in the booke of life And as it hath pleased thee at this present to account vs for thy ghests and not onlie to feede vs with visible creatures namelie bread and wine but also in soule which is thine owne similitude to cherish vs with thy flesh and bloud wheron by the vertue of a liuelie faith we haue to our great comforts most plentifullie fed so now O Lord we beseech thee of thine abundant goodnesse to increase our faith that it may wax strong in thee and fruitfull to exercise the works of charitie and loue to all men that therby as we haue now been at the celebration of thy glorious and blessed supper so we may whensoeuer it shall please thee to call vs to thine heauenly banket be found furnished not emptie not naked but armed and couered with fruitfull faith and truth and so as thy ghests or vessels of honour enioie the participation of thy heauenlie and rich palace whereas ioies neuer vade but continuallie endure Take from vs the burden of our corruption set vs free from the cursed clog of sinne deliuer vs from the snares of death and destruction Giue vs willing minds to obeie and heare thy commandements clense thou our harts from all iniquitie and giue vs grace henceforth to walke in newnesse of life and godlie conuersation that thy name may be glorified and we saued in the daie of thy comming to iudgement Grant this for Jesus Christ his sake our mediatour and aduocate Amen A godlie praier to be said of euerie Christian especiallie at burials GOod Lord which with thy hands doest staie the frame engin of the earth and rulest the course of the swift heauens disposing and ordering all things by thy diuine prouidence which hast apointed bounds to our life which we can not pas I besech thee that by my liuing I learning to die mortifieng by thy spirit the affections of the flesh though not expelling them yet subduing the rage of them it may at the last by the hauen of death land in the most glorious citie of euerlasting life where our bodies which are now darke miserable and corruptible shall be most bright glorious and incorruptible like to the immortall and shining bodie of our Lord Iesus Christ We shall be like to Christ our Sauiour euen as he is so shall we be And as we haue borne the image of the earthlie so shall we beare the image of the heauenlie and shine like to the sunne as the face of Christ did in his transfiguration Oh Lord Iesus blessed Sauiour which by thy death hast triumphed ouer sinne and death thou hast troden on the sting of the monster our hidious enimie the gates of hel haue not preuailed against thee grant to me a true and liuelie faith by which men passe from earth to heauen from death to eternall life This can we not doo without thee thou must be our mediatour For a child of a nights birth is not pure in thy sight In sinne were we borne and by nature we are the children of perdition and firebrands of hell but thou O blessed Sauiour art the perfection of the lawe to them that beleeue As death came by sinnes so by thy death and pretious bloudshedding is death conquered and exiled and we that beleeue washed and clensed of our sinnes All the Prophets beare witnesse that they which beleeue in thy name shall receiue remission of their sinnes If we confesse our sinnes thou art righteous to
to displeasure The burden of my sinnes are intollerable for the which I must acknowledge and earnestlie from the bottome of my hart confesse that iustlie thou hast corrected and visited me yet not in the fulnesse of thy furie but according to thy fatherlie loue and kindnesse And albeit thy rod lie heauie vpon my shoulders yet in this time of thy correction I am comforted greatlie knowing assuredlie that thou correctest and simitest where thou louest thou woundest and healest againe thou throwest downe to hell and liftest vp againe to heauen such and so great is thine omnipotencie that thou rulest aboue the firmament in earth flouds and the lowermost parts of hell In heauen the Angels Archangels the soules of thy Saints the blessed companie of Martyrs giue thee praise glorie and veneration The sun the moone and glistering stars ech one of them in their course and qualitie shew themselues obedient vnto thy will In earth the beasts of the field and the seelie feathered foules of the aire in their order seeme to set foorth thy glorie and praise In the deepe waters the fishes of the sea are readie to obserue thy will and in their maner they as thy creatures giue thee due honour and reuerence But among these man whom thou by thy diuine will and pleasure hast indued with reason and in his creation concerning the inward man hadst fashioned him to thy similitude and likenesse is now most prone and willing to be by the ministers of darknesse seduced and carried awaie from vertue to vice from godlinesse to all impietie from obedience to wilfull breach and contempt of thy precepts so that diligence is banished by negligence And such is the power of our flesh that our eies which should haue their chiefest contemplation and delight in perusing and reading thy glorious and sacred Gospel wherein we may behold thee crucified and slaine O sweetest Sauiour Christ Iesus perfect God and perfect man by whose innocent death bloudie passion attonement is made betwixt thy Father and vs are so dazeled with the dimme and darke mists of Sathan that they are occupied in the beholding of mundane and transitorie pleasures all which in effect vanish and weare awaie euen as the flower that either is parched by the force of Phoebus radiant beames or by Winters stormes and horie frosts consumed Our eares which thou hast giuen to vs to heare and vnderstand the sacred and diuine mysteries conteined in thy holie lawe are made deafe of purpose so that they glorie more in fables and lothsome leasings than they conceiue delight in the zealous predication of thine Euangelicall and heauenlie doctrine Our harts are hardened like the Adamant so that for the greatest part they can not brooke thy testimonies they continuallie lust and desire to be satisfied with worldlie wealth honour and dignitie And who beholdeth not in these daies what cruell conflict and bloudie fight there is betwixt good conscience and filthie auarice the roote of all mischiefe and euill Naie who seeth not in this age plaine dealing murthered by deceit and faithlesse fraud Who now beholdeth not true meaning strangled by forged flatterie and loathsome leasings The bowels of compassion and pitie are shut vp by violent oppression and tyrannie Our feete are willing to tread the paths of pride fornication and vncleannesse Our hands are readie to offer wrong and iniurie to the innocent yea and in fine whatsoeuer thou hast giuen vnto vs to spread and set foorth thy glorie and honour is by sinne so corrupted that we make the members of our bodies which by grace and of pure loue are ingraffed in the bodie of Christ the rich and great shepheard of our soules the verie members of Sathan So that of set purpose our transgression abounding we flie from Christ the rocke and strong piller of our saluation and run head-long to death and vtter destruction of bodie and soule Yet like a louing God and mercifull Father thou callest vs home againe by thy word wherin not onlie thy mercies but also thy terrible threats are thundered foorth against vs for our impenitencie But when neither thy manifold mercies freelie of thine abundant goodnesse offered vnto vs in Iesus Christ can mooue nor stir vs to handfast contrition neither yet thy terrible comminations and thretnings can reclame nor call vs backe from the dangerous puddle of our sins then thou sendest forth thy plagues and punishments as pestilence famine bloudie sword intending thereby to driue vs to amendment of life and to acknowledge thine omnipotencie But when thou beholdest our true repentant harts our sobs and sighing teares powred foorth before the throne of thy diuine Maiestie thou withdrawest from vs the terror of thine indignation and vengeance the rod of thy correction is laid aside thy displeasure iustlie conceiued against vs for the continuall exercise of sinne is vtterlie forgotten and by the intercession of thy sonne Iesus Christ that sitteth on thy right hand in glorie permanent and euerlasting like a louing Father and most mercifull God the siluered scepter of peace is offered vnto vs with all other thy gratious benefits that thine anger is conuerted to clemencie thy displeasure is turned to louing kindnesse and in fine thine indignation is so calmed by thine abundant grace and mercie that like a louing and gentle Father thine armes are stretched foorth ioifullie to embrace and receiue vs to thy fauour againe All this I knowe to be most certaine and true For when or at what tune soeuer we shall appeare before the gates of mercie and by the meanes and power of a constant and liuelie faith knocke therat thou art redie to open vnto vs not for anie of our deserts but for the merits of Iesus Christ the fulnesse of thy diuine miseration compassion and pitie And whensoeuer we shall call vpon thee with lowlinesse and meekenesse of our harts and minds bewailing wofullie our heinous offences committed against thee thine eares are most attentiue to heare willinglie doest grant vs our petitions Wherefore O most gratious and louing father we come vnto thee with sorowfull and contrite harts beseeching thee for the loue of thine annointed sonne Iesus Christ our Messias Sauiour and Redeemer to behold and looke vpon vs with the eies of compassion and pitie And albeit we haue worthilie deserued this thy plague and punishment yet respect thou not our deseruings least in thy furie and indignation we be confounded perish Haue an eie rather to thy sonne Iesus Christ behold his bloudie wounds which yet are fresh and greene and neuer stint bleeding Thinke vpon the bitter and painefull torments that he suffered for vs vpon the crosse in whose name we beseech thee fauourablie to looke vpon our infirmities mercifullie to heare our praiers and petitions offered vnto thee and gratiouslie for the glorie of thy name sake to take and withdrawe from vs this thy heauie rod of correction which our sinfull liues and contempt of thy precepts haue heaped heauilie on our
this perfect quietnesse may be in anie I will not affirme peraduenture it is not necessarie to be For Paule in this life notwithstanding his high perfection and grace had a motion of the flesh to vexe and trouble him And when he thrise desired God to be deliuered from the said motion he onelie had this answere Paule my grace is sufficient for vertue is made perfect by vexation Paule was vexed by pride that he should not be proud to be perfect and strong in God he was caused to be weake and feeble For he caried the treasure of heauenlie reuelation in a fraile and brittle vessell that the honour and victorie should onlie be in God not in himselfe This one example of Paule is erudition and learning in manie things when that we be entised and moued to sinne that we diligentlie call to almightie God by praier Remember that Dauid the Prophet King Salomon and Peter the Apostle notwithstanding they were great lights and examples of holinesse yet they fell into greeuous and great sinnes whome almightie God peraduenture suffered to fall for this cause speciallie that thou shouldst not despaire Lift vp thy selfe therefore vpon thy feete and with high courage and bold stomach returne againe into battell against thy enimies not onlie more fierce and bold but also more ware and diligent And thinke with thy selfe what intollerable and inuincible temptations Christ suffered for thee wherein there appeared no helpe comfort aide nor defence anie where wherein God and the whole world seemed to be his most cruell and malicious enimies when that he cried alowd My GOD my GOD why hast thou forsaken me Trulie this was a most greeuous painefull and bitter temptation which Christ suffered for vs that he might make the waie of the crosse easie for vs. Therefore prepare thy selfe patientlie to drinke of that cup which Christ Iesu thy head hath so willinglie dronke on for the saluation of all mankind And seeing therefore that Christ so willinglie put himselfe in subiection and dipped himselfe in those so horrible and intollerable sorowes and calamities our most louing and heauenlie father willing the same out of doubt he also vnderstandeth and knoweth our infirmitie out of doubt he taking compassion on vs will not extremelie deale with vs but will rather beare with our imbecillitie and weakenesse Doth not he himselfe calling all men vnto him saie Come vnto me all yee that labour and are heauie laden and I will refresh you What greater comfort I praie you can be giuen vs How could Christ speake more mercifullie vnto vs There be manie things that greeuouslie vexe and trouble man but what thing can more cruellie vexe and torment his conscience ouerwhelmed with sinne than when he doubteth of the mercie of God When he dreadeth least God be his aduersarie and will reiect him When he is not able to conceiue this faith of his mercie and doth imagine himselfe to be cast awaie as a drie member that is cut off Be present heere O Iesus Christ with thine aide and helpe heere we haue neede of thy comfort let not this blacke violent and horrible tempest of troubles ouerthrowe and drowne wretched man But there is no cause why we should doubt Christ is true he will make his promise to appeare he will helpe vs and refresh vs. Therefore whereas thy faith is not strong ynough whereas thou feelest thy selfe to doubt of Gods mercie and hast well-neere no faith at all streightwaies call vpon God bewaile thy miserie and lacke of beleefe before him seeke for his aide and succour by feruent praier and he will both helpe and refresh thee he hath taken vpon him thus to doo and he will bring it to passe But take heede thou cease not to call vpon God beseech thou without ceasing the father of all consolation and comfort with sighes from the bottome of thine heart that he turne not his face from thee laie thy weakenesse vpon him and powre out into his bosome all things which trouble and torment thee Crie out with his disciples O Lord increase my faith Likewise saie thou with the father of the lunatike childe Lord I beleeue helpe thou mine vnbeleefe make haste O Lord to helpe me before that I oppressed with this weight be drowned O most louing and most mercifull father Lord God of my health our onlie helpe and refuge enter not into iudgement with thy seruants Christ is my righteousnesse redemption and innocencie which suffered most bitter and cruell death for my sake Let those things moue thee O father of all compassion haue mercie vpon me for thy sonnes sake confirme and strengthen my hart by faith in Christ comfort me with the consolations of the holie Ghost that I may enioie the true ioies of euerlasting life through the merits of my Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ to whom with the Father and the holie Ghost be all praise and glorie for euer and euer Amen A godlie meditation of the vnspeakable ioies of heauen and the intollerable paines of hell verie often to be remembred O God my Lord my harts delight with whom my soule longeth to dwell in that heauenlie Ierusalem wherein is continuall health eternall felicitie happie libertie and perfect blessednesse where men shall be like vnto the Angels of God and iust men shall shine as the Sunne in the euerlasting kingdome wherein is no heauinesse no sorrowe no greefe no feare no labour no death no disease no lacke no hunger no thirst no cold nor heate no wearinesse of fasting nor temptation of the enimie no will to sinne nor power to doo euill no old age no lame or deformed person no feare of pouertie or weaknesse by disease but a quiet harbour of all ioie and euerlasting happinesse where men in the societie of Angels shall continuallie dwell without anie infirmitie of the flesh For there is infinite ioie and eternall blisse from whence none shall be remoued that once by thy prouidence shall enter therein There is rest from labours peace from the enimie a new kind of ioie and delight such as no hart can conceine saue onlie by taking a maruellous delight and exceeding pleasure in the beholding of thee my Lord God my glorious redeemer and the heauenlie comforter which proceedeth from the Father and the Sonne O heauenlie Ierusalem thou art sweet and beautifull in all thy ioies and delights There are no such miseries in thee as we feele and suffer in this poore and miserable life There is in thee no darkenesse nor change of time the shining of the Moone the twinkling brightnesse of the Stars giueth not light in thee but onlie the God of all power glorie maiestie the light of lights For in thee the Sun of iustice giueth light to those that are adopted in his bloud to euer-during blessednesse The bright and immaculate Lambe a most beautifull light is thy light that doth illuminate his chosen children The King of kings is in the middest of thee enuironed on ech side with his
surelie haue perished in my trouble The lawe of my God is more deerer vnto me than thousands of siluer and gold yea all the riches in the world is nothing woorth in comparison of thy word For it is more comfortable than the most costliest and pretious restoratiue that anie Physician can make For it comforteth nourisheth and preserueth the soule leading it vnto life euerlasting Oh Lord God of hosts who is like vnto thee Thy truth most mightie God endureth for euermore I will alwaies giue thanks vnto thee for the great benefits that thou hast bestowed on me The righteous shall heare thereof and reioice with me yea and the vnrighteous shall feare the Lord and saie Doubtlesse there is a GOD that defendeth his seruants and he also doth punish the wrong dooers Thou art the God that dooest woonderous things O Lord who may be compared vnto thee For thou deliuerest me thy poore oppressed seruant from the hand of my strong enimie yea from such a one as was too mightie for me to deale withall Thou hast I saie mightilie defended me and now O Lord be mindfull of me and command my spirit to be receiued in grace when it is thy good pleasure Amen An instruction for Christians conteining a fruitfull and godlie exercise as well in wholsome and fruitfull praiers as in reuerend discerning of Gods holie Commandements and Sacraments translated out of French into English by a right vertuous and godlie Matrone and Gentlewoman named Mistresse DORCAS MARTIN Psalme 119. verses 37 133. From vaine desires and worldlie lusts Turne backe mine eies and sight Giue me the spirit of life and power To walke thy waies aright Direct my footesteps by thy word That I thy will may knowe And neuer let iniquitie Thy seruant ouerthrowe The Lords praier OUr Father which art in heauen halowed be thy name Thy kingdome come Thy will be done in earth as it is in heauen Giue vs this daie our dailie bread And forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespasse against vs. And lead vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euill for thine is the kingdome the power and the glorie for euer and euer Amen The Articles of the Christian faith I Beleeue in God the father Almightie maker of heauen and earth And in Iesus Christ his onlie sonne our Lord which was conceiued by the holie Ghost Borne of the virgin Marie Suffered vnder Pontius Pilate was crucified dead and buried He descended into hell The third daie he rose againe from the dead He ascended into heauen and sitteth on the right hand of God the father almightie From thence shall he come to iudge the quicke and the dead I beleeue in the holie Ghost The holie Catholike Church The communion of Saints The forgiuenesse of sinnes The resurrection of the bodie And the life euerlasting Amen The ten Commandements of Almightie GOD Exod. 20. The Preface HEarken O Israel I am the Lord thy God which haue brought thee out of the land of Egypt out of the house of bondage The first Table _1 THou shalt haue none other gods before me 2 Thou shalt make thee no grauen image neither anie similitude of things that are in heauen aboue neither that are in the earth beneath nor that are in the waters vnder the earth Thou shalt not bow downe to them nor woorship them For I am the Lord thy God a gealous God visiting the iniquitie of the fathers vpon the children vpon the third generation and vpon the fourth of them that hate me and shewing mercie vnto thousands in them that loue me and keepe my commandements 3 Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vaine for the Lord will not hold him giltlesse that taketh his name in vaine 4 Remember the Sabboth daie to keepe it holie Sixe daies shalt thou labour and doo all thy workes but the seauenth daie is the Sabboth of the Lord thy God In it thou shalt not doo anie worke thou nor thy sonne nor thy daughter thy man-seruant nor thy maide-seruant nor the stranger that is within thy gates For in sixe daies the Lord made the heauen and the earth the sea and all that in them is and rested the seauenth daie therfore the Lord blessed the Sabboth daie and halowed it The second Table _5 HOnour thy father and thy mother that thy daies may bee prolonged vpon the land which the Lord thy God giueth thee 6 Thou shalt not kill 7 Thou shalt not commit adulterie 8 Thou shalt not steale 9 Thou shalt not beare false witnesse against thy neighbour 10 Thou shalt not couet thy neighbours house neither shalt thou couet thy neighbours wife nor his seruant nor his maide nor his oxe nor his asse neither anie thing that is thy neighbours The Summe THou shalt loue the Lord thy God with all thine hart with all thy soule and with all thy mind This is the first and the greatest commandement And the second is like vnto this Thou shalt loue thy neighbour as thy selfe On these two commandements hangeth the whole Lawe and the Prophets Matth 7. verse 12. Whatsoeuer ye would that men should doo to you euen so doo ye to them For this is the Lawe and the Prophets Iohn 15. verse 12. This is my commandement that ye loue one another as I haue loued you Iohn 13. verse 35. Heereby shall all men knowe that you are my disciples if ye loue one another A praier to be said in the Morning when one awaketh Our helpe be in the name of the Lord who hath made heauen and earth O My God and father I most humblie praise and thanke thee for this that of thine infinite goodnesse and mercie it hath pleased thee to watch for me this night whiles I slept preseruing me from so manie kinds of dangers wherevnto this miserable life is subiect O Lord I beseech thee bring into my memorie thy other great and innumerable benefits also according as I may be able to comprehend them to the end that I may likewise render thanks for the same least I be vngratefull towards thy maiestie as thou hast done me this good not to forget that thou alone hast preserued me from all inconuenience And herewithall I beseech thee most gratious father through thy mercie to continue this thy fatherlie care which thou hast for me vntill such time as I shall rest in that happie sleepe whereof they reioice which sleepe in peace through our Lord Iesus Christ thy sonne who in the vnitie of the holie Ghost liueth and reigneth God with thee eternallie So be it The exercise of an housholder with his familie to praie in the Morning O Our God Father Sauiour seeing it hath pleased thee to giue vs grace to passe this night to come vnto this daie present vouchsafe now also to bestowe this goodnesse vpon vs that we may emploie our selues altogether to thy seruice in such wise that we neither thinke saie or doo anie thing but onlie to please thee
of thee their God Notwithstanding when thou O God thereby well hadst tamed their fiercenesse and hadst brought them to this point that they could find no help in anie thou gratiouslie heardst them crieng vnto thee in their distresse and deliueredst them from their miserie and broughtst them from the dongeons of the prisons and darkenesse of death breaking their iron fetters in sunder O praise yee therefore this so great mercie of the Lord before him and declare his woonderfull actes to other mortall men who hath broken the brasen gates and hath dashed in peeces their iron barres How manie also being driuen awaie through persecution vnto that prophane Babylon euen auoiding so much as laie in you the sight of the wicked enimies did confesse with most dolefull silence euen with abundance of teares both your sinnes and sorowes at the flouds of Euphrates being mindfull of Zion And though you caried your harps euen to be your comfort in so great calamitie yet being outragiouslie mocked and derided in your miserie by the enimie that draue you awaie into most miserable captiuitie you were faine to hang them vp vpon the sallowe trees and make no noise in the sight of the persecutors as they that sawe more cause rather to mourne than sing in that time and place Notwithstanding the Lord did not forget you for euer but seeing the crueltie of the persecutors in his good time turned awaie your captiuitie mourning and restored you to libertie and ioie againe so that you liue and see the daie wherein Babylon is destroied and hir children dashed against the stones For the Lord hath giuen hir prosperitie vnto vs to deale with them againe as they haue dealt with vs. Yea the Lord hath armed his people with double edged swords in their hands wherewith they may punish the prophane Gentiles and auenge the crueltie of the oppressed also may drawe their kings and nobles bound in chaines and iron fetters euen to execute the iudgements appointed and commanded by thee O Lord. And this verelie is the dignitie and the honour of all them whome God hath receiued to his fauour Wherefore O ye glorious people vpon whome the Lord hath bestowed so manie benefits now see that yee in this your great quietnesse and rest sing triumph Praise the Lord in deede O Israel and delight thy selfe in setting foorth his praise continuallie whose worke thou art as it were newlie formed being deliuered from so manie not dangers but deaths What shall I speake Lord furthermore of them who by their owne foolishnesse going in the waie of wickednesse and being oppressed by manifold plagues and diseases doo dailie suffer the reward of their madnesse and loathing all manner of meate are at deaths dore whom notwithstanding thou O Lord diddest heare crieng vnto thee in their miserie and thou deliueredst them out of their distresse yea thou speaking but one word diddest take awaie all the cause of their deadlie disease and restoredst them to health Let these men also I saie praise this thy so great mercies O Lord and publish thy maruellous works before other mortall men Let them offer the sacrifices of praise vnto thee O God in the middle multitude of the people standing about them and let them rehearse with great ioie what he hath done for them in the assemblie of the cheefest Go to therefore O all yee people praise the Lord our God together with me who when wee were oppressed with Pharaos tyrannie was mindfull of vs and with a strong force deliuered Israel from the slauerie of Egypt and hath giuen this dominion to be possessed by ELIZABETH his handmaid for his mercie endureth for euer CAP. III. O All yee people I saie tribes kindreds and inhabitants of the earth both noble and simple rich and poore clap your hands and praise this most holie God with most ioifull voices Giue vnto the Lord the praise of all power worship and glorie giue him the honour due vnto his name and maiestie For lo he is come to gouerne the earth The Lord himselfe reigneth amongst you and gouerneth the whole world with a iust and righteous gouernement and ruleth altogether with the scepter of his iustice and truth Go to therefore O yee yong striplings and old men yong children maidens matrones and you also all other that loue feare God come I praie you praise y e name of y e Lord euen of our most mightie IEHOVA together with mee For he alone deserueth most high praise as he that is more deepe than the verie earth and more high than the heauens and far aboue all the powers and potentates of the world Go to also O ye damsels and virgins stir vp your ioie to daie with songs of praise vpon timbrell lute but voide of wantonnesse so that your ioie may tend to the glorie of God your onlie strength and celebrate this daie of your deliuerance as festiuail to the Lord our deliuerer O ye Uirgins and damsels vnmaried now reioice with me I saie and sing vnto the Lord a triumphant song Praise the Lord also O ye brides in your marriage songs with glorie and maiestie that ye liue to see my daies and that the flower of your youth is not consumed in the flame of Gods furie For the time was when you being desolate and vnmarried did remaine pensife without your marriage songs and liued solitarie sitting at home among the soote of pots but now the women that durst not come out of their houses come foorth glittering like gold and shining like dooues as white as snowe and boldlie diuide the spoile of the enimie Go to therefore O ye damsels of Iuda and multitude of Uirgins seeing ye haue so great cause to reioice shew not your selues vnthankfull in anie wise but praise the Lord together with me in Hymnes and celebrate his name with spirituall songs for his victories goodnesse and mercie towards vs. Come foorth yee daughters of Zion I saie and breake out into gladnesse with me reioice you of the iust iudgements of God vpon our enimies yea compasse you Zion round about account hir towers consider diligentlie hir wals and bulworks and set foorth the praises of hir peace and palaces so that yee may spread foorth the memorie thereof euen to all posteritie And doo you let all men to vnderstand that this is God euen our owne God for euer which hath not forsaken vs neither will leaue vs no not in the last minute of our life Go to now therefore I beseech you let vs altogether praise the Lord as we are bounden let the whole companie of vs Uirgins plaie vpon the Timbrels on euerie side and corner of the citie Zion one exhorting and answering another by course and that with new and excellent songs of praise to the glorie of God Let vs magnitie that mightie and eternal name of his for it is holie let vs continuallie come before the Lord and worship him for he is holie For what should we rather doo
possesse our memorie But thou wilt saie I praie continuallie and yet I see no fruit of my praier as I come vnto it so I depart none answereth or speaketh vnto me nothing is giuen me but my labour seemeth vaine This is the speech of humane follie not obseruing what truth it selfe promiseth saieng Uerelie I saie vnto you whatsoeuer ye aske in praier with faith yee shall receiue it and it shall be performed vnto you Esteeme not lightlie therfore of praier For he to whome thou praiest hath it in price and before it proceed from thy mouth commandeth it to be registred in his owne booke One of these two we may vndoubtedlie hope for that either he will giue vs our requests or better Thinke of God as highlie as thou art able and yet beleeue more of him than thou canst thinke All the time wherein thou thinkest not vpon God esteeme it lost all other things be foraigne vnto vs time onlie is our owne Attend therefore vpon God and wheresoeuer thou art be all with him Impart but giue not vp thy selfe to worldlie affaires Wheresoeuer thou art cast thy thoughts vpon God No place is vnfit for meditation Therefore with all cheerefulnesse gather vp thy spirits dwell at libertie with thy selfe and out of the largenesse of thy heart measure out a lodging for thy Lord Christ A wise mans mind is alwaie with God He ought to be alwaies in our sight by whome we haue our being life and knowledge He is the author of our being the teacher of our vnderstanding the treasure of our spirituall and ioifull happinesse Heerein we may acknowledge the diuine image of the heauenlie Trinitie For as he hath his being in excellencie of wisdome and goodnesse so we according to our creation haue our subsistence being endued also with reason and delight in knowledge as a signature and impression of the diuine Maiestie Esteeme therefore of thy selfe as of the temple of God seeing it pleased him to impart his likenesse to thee as a high renowne to adore and imitate God Thou dooest imitate him if thou be holie as he is holie For a holie mind is the temple of God and a sincere hart the most acceptable aultar Thou dooest adore God if thou be mercifull euen as he is mercifull to all For it is a pleasing sacrifice to God to gratifie all for the cause of God Doo all things as the sonne of God that thou bee not vnworthie of him that hath vouchsafed to be thy father Knowe that of all thy actions God is a witnesse Beware therefore to fixe thine eie or settle thy thought in anie vnlawfull delight neither speake nor doo anie ill though thou maist Offend not God neither in deede nor purpose For his almightinesse discouereth thy deeds Thou hast neede of a great watch discharging all the actions in the face of the Iudge yet liue thou maist without securitie if thou behaue thy selfe so as he vouchsafe thee his presence If he abide not with thee in fauour he will come vnto thee in reuenge And if he come in reuenge wo be vnto thee nay rather wo if he come not For God is most angrie with him whose sinne he leaueth vnpunished His damnation is prepared whome God reformeth not in fatherlie chasticement Another Meditation to the same effect GOod Lord bee mercifull vnto mee that offend worst where I ought most to mind the reformation of my faults Praieng in the temple oftentimes I heed not what I speak I praie but by the absence of my wandering mind it is made fruitlesse With my bodie I enter into thy temple but my hart standeth without therefore my praier vanisheth awaie For the outward sound of the voice without the inward symphonie of the hart auaileth nothing Then is it a great follie naie madnesse when by praier presuming to speake in presence of the mightie God we doo brutishlie wander in vaine thoughts and arrest our minds vpon verie trifles An heinous offence also and woorthie a greeuous punishment it is that vile dust should not vouchsafe audience to the Creator of the whole world speaking vnto him But the woorthinesse of thy heauenlie bountie is vnspeakable which euerie daie regardeth vs standing in wretchednesse and miserie turning aside our eares and hardening our harts Yet he crieth out vnto vs saieng Returne into the waie yee transgressours attend and see for I am God God speaketh to me in the Psalme and I vnto him yet in repeating the same I regard not whose it is Heerein I offer God great wrong in desiring him to harken vnto my praier which my selfe in making it doo not heare I request him to attend me and I neither intend him nor my selfe but that which worsse is I doo violate his sacred presence with vnpure and vnprofitable thoughts Haue mercie vpon me pardon mine offences and renew mee with thy holie Spirit that in all my Praiers Psalmes Songs and Hymnes I may both saie and sing to the honor and glorie of thy name Amen ¶ Heere as time will conuenientlie serue before Common praier begin make your priuate petitions vnto Almightie God and saie A salutation to God the Father or first forme of praier when yee kneele downe in the Church HAile our Father GOD Almightie full of grace mercie and comfort Thy Sonne Iesus Christ verie God and man is with thee in heauen Blessed be thy name O Father both in heauen aboue and in earth amongst all nations by thine onlie sonne our Lord Amen Another first forme of praier in the Church at Morning praier O Most high and blessed Trinitie the verie Father Sonne holie Ghost three glorious and vnseparable persons in Trinitie and but one God in Deitie vncreate incomprehensible eternall inuisible and almightie one being power wisdome goodnesse and Lord of coequall coeternall and vndefiled Maiestie who before all worlds in all worlds and by all worlds into euerlasting dooest liue and dwellest alone in vnapprochable light with all my verie hart and mouth doo I beeing the least member of thy Church fall downe lowe on my knees heere before thy footestoole and confesse praise blesse and worship thee O glorious Trinitie And now and euer with all Angels creatures and Elders both in heauen and earth I crie and saie Holie Holie Holie Lord God of hostes dreadfull strong righteous mercifull maruellous praise-worthie to be beloued Heauen and earth are full of thy glorie Glorie be to thee O God for euer Amen A praier that God would vouchsafe to heare the praiers of the Congregation afflicted and graunt their requests OH Lord my God most high most holie holie holie Lord God of Sabaoth most blessed and glorious Trinitie Father Sonne and holie Ghost three glorious persons of coequall and consubstantiall Maiestie and one almightie and incomprehensible God in Deitie alwais by all meanes of all creatures aboue all things to be woorshipped in Unitie and glorified in Deitie looke downe from thy kinglie court and princelie pallace where thou art placed in the
such things as be allowed and pleasant vnto thee least at anie time cleauing to superstition and hypocrisie I doo worship thee amisse but fill my hart with grace and stuffe it with sweetnesse of spirit euen as my bodie is stuffed with abundance of meats Lord rid me out of mine vngodlinesse plucke from me mine ignorance of thee banish my slothfulnesse of insearching thee Compell my flesh through thy spirit to his bounden dutie and obedience and bring to passe that I may now alwaies applie my selfe wholie without wearinesse and drinesse of mind vnto the right sincere worshipping and seruing of thee here in thy presence O Lord open thou my lips and then shall my mouth extoll thy renowmed name and publish thy praise not with fained lips but with a full glad hart lustie stomach and quicke spirit and saie with the congregation Our Father c. As at euening praier in the Church Another Meditation before Euening praier in the Church SEing thou hast beautified all those with a notable promise O most mightie God which are knit together in the honouring of thy blessed name so that thou wilt not onlie be present with them but also bestowest excellent gifts and benefits vpon these men whosoeuer they are that excell in sincere faith and pure godlinesse and haue an exceeding desire to be often in the blessed congregation in so much as there is nothing which they more couet or desire than to appeare diuers times in the daie before thee in the sacred assemblies yea it ought to be a most pleasant thing vnto vs to celebrate thy high praises perpetuallie and shew foorth thy maruellous works without ceasing For the performance whereof godlinesse would require that wee should not onlie doo the same in the daie time but also in the night season We will therefore lift vp pure hands in all places touching the publishing of thy glorious name and render perpetuall thankes according to our bounden dutie for thine vnspeakable goodnesse and louing kindnesse extended towards vs. But seeing that this ought to be done in the most sacred and holie assemblies our earnest request is to haue thee present heere with vs and to bestowe thy plentifull blessings vpon thy beloued Israel First deliuer vs wee humblie beseech thee from our heinous faults enorme sinnes and lewd corruptions wherewith we haue greatlie defiled our selues And then let our weake and feeble harts be strengthned in thy blessed waie and the withered powers of our mind which are dried vp watered with the holie Ghost that we being altogither repaired and wholie renewed may continuallie celebrate and praise thee and haue a great desire to direct our praiers vnto thy mercie-seate with a most holie intent as Christians ought to doo Cause vs now not constrained and brought thereto by compulsion but of a willing hart to come before thy presence and become true worshippers of thee yea and such as doo thinke it a goodlie matter to spend not onlie houres but daies and nights yea and all our yeares and life in the sincere seruice and right worshipping and honouring of thee in the sacred Church Let nothing be so deere and pretious vnto vs as to continue in the praises and commendations of thy glorious name from morning to night praieng both publikelie and priuatelie for all other as well as for our selues Graunt O excellent father that we in giuing due thanks for thy benefits may ioifullie sing double praises to thy glorious name for euermore that our minds I saie may dailie more and more bee strengthened hartilie to confesse couragiouslie to extoll and aboue all things to exalt thy wonderfull praises vncessantlie through Iesus Christ our Lord and Sauiour Amen A Psalme of exhortation to praier in the morning or euening O Come let vs worship fall downe and kneele before the Lord our maker and let vs hartilie reioice in the strength of our saluation Let our soules reioice I saie in the mercie of the Lord and not be ashamed to publish his praise Let vs doo our duties betimes both earlie and late and he will giue vs a reward in his due time For a good thing it is to giue thanks vnto the Lord and to tell of his louing kindnesse earlie in the morning O come therefore praise the Lord with me and let vs magnifie his name together Bring hither the booke take the Psalter and sing vnto the Lord a new song Let vs sing praises I saie lustilie vnto him with a good courage and shew our selues glad in him with Psalmes euen now in the time appointed and vpon our solemne feast-daie For great is the Lord and highlie to be praised in the Citie of our God euen vpon his holie hill of Zion Glorie be to the c. As it was in the c. Another Psalme exhorting all creatures to praise God O Praise the Lord of heauen yee Angels of his ye Saincts that excell in strength and fulfill his commandements yee seruants of his that harken to the voice of his words and doo his pleasure Praise him in the height ye children of Zion and be ioifull in your King with glorie For God is verie greatlie to be feared in the counsell of his Saincts and to be had in reuerence of all them that are about him Praise him all yee heauens and ye waters that bee aboue the heauens O God the verie heauens shall praise thy woonderous works and thy truth in the congregation of the Saincts Yea let heauen and earth praise thee the Sea and all that moueth therein O sing vnto the Lord all the whole earth woorship him and stand in awe of his iudgements ye multitude of Isles Praise the Lord O Ierusalem praise thy God O Zion Praise the name of the Lord O yee seruants of the Lord yee that by daie or by night stand in the house of the Lord euen in the courts of the house of our God O all yee righteous that loue and seeke the Lord and be true-harted towards him praise his holie name and magnifie him all yee seed of Israel that feare and dread his Maiestie Praise the Lord also all ye heathen and nations of the world worship you him and glorifie his name For he is great passing all praise Praise the Lord O ye Kings of the earth Princes and all Iudges of the world yea worship him all yee gods For he is higher than the heauens and far exalted aboue all gods O yee kindreds of the people ascribe vnto the Lord the worship power and honour due vnto his name bring presents and come into his courts with praise Let the people praise thee O God yea let all the people praise thee both yong men and maids old men and children let them all remember thy holie name and declare thy power from one generation to another world without end O speake good of the Lord all yee works of the Lord in all places of his dominion Let euerie thing that hath breath praise the Lord. For his
miseries which hang ouer our heads but blot out all our offences O God after thy manifold mercies and take awaie from vs the curse of our ground that the people may praise thee O God yea that all the people may praise thee and the earth bring foorth hir increase through our Lord Iesus Christ thine onelie sonne which liueth and reigneth with thee in the vnitie of the holie spirit a God for euermore Amen For faire weather O Lord God which for the sinne of man didst once drowne all the world except eight persons afterward of thy great mercie didst promise neuer to destroie it so againe we humblie beseech thee that although we for oure iniquities haue woorthilie deserued this plague of raine and waters yet vpon our true repentance thou wilt send vs such weather whereby we may receiue the fruits of the earth in due season and learne both by thy punishment to amend our liues and for thy clemencie to giue thee praise and glorie through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A praier in time of vnseasonable showers for faire weather O God and mercifull Father wee acknowledge that we through our manifold sinnes haue deserued to be sharpelie rebuked and corrected of thee but if thou shouldest deale with vs after our sinnes we are not able to abide thy wrath and heauie hand Wherfore deale mercifullie with vs O Lord after the greatnesse of thy goodnesse and the multitude of thy mercies that wee rather may reioice and be thankfull vnto thee for the abundance of thy great mercie and louing kindnesse than be cast downe and discouraged by the heauie weight of thy hand In thy hands O Lord are both heauen and earth so gouerne them therefore we beseech thee for thy name sake that we may haue seasonable weather to receiue the fruits of the earth Staie the unmoderate plentie of raine and vnseasonable weather and powre rather vpon vs the plentifull dew of thy spirit that we may dailie growe to the perfection of Christian men and women Take awaie from vs our stonie harts and giue vnto vs in stead there of harts of flesh that we may cease at the length thus to prouoke thy wrath to bring vpon vs either this so great a plague as the losse of the fruits of the earth either else other plagues of thy iust iudgments Grant that we may so repent vs of our former euils that hereafter the woorthie fruits of true repentance may continuallie appeare therein and so to passe ouer and to end our mortall liues that at the last we may attaine vnto the blessed resurrection and life euerlasting through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen In time of thunder lightening raging tempests and vnseasonable weather praie thus O Most wise mightie God thou art a glorious King in all the world thy woonderfull maiestie doth shine and is knowne also by raine thundering lightening and other meteors ingendred in the aire Thy throne is among the clouds thou hast made darkenesse thy secrete place and thy pauilion about thee euen darknesse of water and clouds of the aire At the brightnesse of thy presence the clouds doo passe awaie so doo the haile-stones and firie coales Thou dooest thunder from the heauens and giuest thy voice hailestones and coales of fire Thou sendest thine arrowes and scatterest them thou increasest lightenings and destroiest them Who is so great a god as thou our God Thou art the God which dooest woonders and declarest thy power among the nations Thou redeemest thy people with thine arme The waters sawe thee and were afraid the depths trembled The clouds powred out water the aire thundered and thine arrowes went abroad The voice of thy thunder was heard round about the world the earth trembled and shooke The foundations of the earth shooke and were discouered at thy rebuking O Lord at the blasting of the breath of thy nostrels Therefore shall the verie heauens extoll thy woonderous works and the Saints set foorth thy truth in the congregation For who is equall 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 all that are about thee O Lord God of hosts who is like vnto thee which art a mightie Lord and thy truth is about thee Thou rulest the raging of the sea thou stillest the waues thereof when they doo arise Thou onlie art of power to resolue into vapours the drops of the sea by the heat 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 powring downe vpon the face of the earth Whatsoeuer thou wilt thou dooest in heauen and in earrh and in the sea and in all deepe places With thy power thou madest the earth with thy wisdome thou hast established the world and with thy discretion stretchest out the heauens As soone as thou lettest thy voice be heard the waters in the aire waxe fierce Thou drawest vp the clouds from the ends of the earth thou turnest the lightening into raine and bringest foorth the wind 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 herbs for the vse of man Thou giuest to beasts their food and to the yoong rauens that crie Behold so great art thou that thou passest our knowledge neither can the number of thy yeeres be searched out When thou restrainest the drops of water the raine powreth downe by the vapours thereof and falleth abundantlie vpon man Thou bringest foorth the winds out of thy treasures that is from thy secret places where thou diddest hide them in great abundance that they might be readie at thy commandement and come foorth when thou thinkest good Thou makest the clouds to labour to giue water to the earth and scatterest the cloud of thy light thou turnest it about by thy gouernement that they may doo whatsoeuer thou commandest them vpon the whole world O God mine hart is troubled verie sore when I behold 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 atleast to mitigate these mightie streames and most raging tempests Restraine the thunderbolts and thy firie darts that they hurt vs not Keepe vs and our nests that we perish not through lightenings nor be destroied by thy thunderclaps Protect our houses and vs that we be neither consumed by thy firie meteor nor drowned by thy sudden floud O mercifull God raine not I beseech thee hailestones vpon the face of the earth neither strike such as are in the fields be they man or beast Strike not thou therewith all the herbes of the feeld neither breake thou gratious Lord the trees of our land Destroie not our
of thee and this congregation present who may be eie-witnesses of the same But because O Lord the externall confession and outward acknowledgement of my sinnes without the inward contrition dolour of the hart and soule auaileth nothing in thy presence which art the searcher of the hart and sifter of the reines I most humblie beseech thee that thou wilt so touch my hart and conscience and effectuallie worke in me perfect remorse and detestation of my former offences that without anie hypocrisie and with true compunction of soule and sincere confession of the mouth I vtterlie loathing and condemning mine owne impietie and damning that which the lawe pronounceth vniust and damnable may attaine to some sense and feeling of thy mercie which thou hast aboundantlie shewed vnto all mankind in Christ Iesu our Lord. Conuert me O Lord and I shall be conuerted because thou art my God and being conuerted I will doo penance Heale me O Lord and I shall be healed saue thou me and I shall be saued for thou art my praise To me I confesse shame and confusion of face is due as I iustlie suffer this daie but to thee honor and glorie for my redemption who by thus iudging and punishing me dooest by little and little giue me place to amend and space to repent and hast not suddenlie and at vnwares taken me awaie from the face of the earth and ouerwhelmed me by and by through thy iustice in my wicked deedes dooing as I deserued and thou iustlie mightest For which thy lenitie patience long-suffering and mercie O thou louer of my soule I most humblie thanke thee beseeching thee so to mollifie my hart that I may repent and esteeme greatlie of so great riches and inestimable treasures of thy goodnesse Moreouer O good Lord Iesus Christ grant I beseech thee that among all the feares and terrours of my conscience I may take hold of thee by a liuelie faith which hast redeemed me from the cursse of the lawe and art made for me wisedome and righteousnesse sanctification and redemption and may not in the fight of conscience yeeld my selfe a slaue still to Sathan and despaire of thy mercie but vpholden by the voice of thy Gospell may flee vnto thee my mediator and iustified by faith may haue peace with God that so comming vnto thee by hearing thy word to repentance the Angels in heauen may continuallie haue occasion to reioice and I auoiding the fearefull vengeance which most assuredlie shall fall vpon the inobedient may be restored into the right of thy lawe and receiued againe into the bosome of thy Church as a member of thy mysticall body and from my hart walke in all holie obedience to thee and thy holie word to the praise of thy name the comfort of thy Church and the confusion of Sathan Amen A thankes-giuing and praier vnto God of a reconciled offender or excommunicate person restored into the Church to be vsed after open penance done at a Sermon or otherwise HEauenlie father fountaine of all mercie and consolation I confesse my selfe the chiefest of all sinners and a wretch most vnworthie to bee counted amongst thy children or to be a member of thy Church if thou haue respect to the corruption of my nature and horror of my manifold misdeeds But seeing it hath pleased thy fatherlie goodnesse not onlie freelie to elect and choose me in thy deere sonne our Lord Iesus Christ by his death to redeeme me by his Gospell to call me and by his holie spirit which both are thine to illuminate me but also that thou hast commanded thy holie word and sacred Gospell to be preached not onlie to me but to all the world to the end that the penitent may haue an assurance of the remission of all their sinnes great and small old and new not onlie for a time but euen as oft as they from sorowfull harts and broken spirits in bitter teares shall bewaile the same and call for thy grace and mercie In consideration of this thy fatherlie adoption and ineffable clemencie shewed vpon mee an vnwoorthie wretch I can not but highlie praise and magnifie thy fatherlie mercie A testimonie whereof I not onelie feele now in my selfe but others also see the same euidentlie in this my conuersion and confession of my fore-passed faults in the which my penance dooing I am assured that I haue not so much shamed my selfe before this godlie congregation as I haue thereby confounded and ouercome mine enimie Satan who for a time had me in bondage and by whose venem and deceiuable entisements I heretofore haue beene verie rebellious to the wholesome admonitions of the Church for the which vile sinnes rebellion and contempt I confesse I haue beene woorthilie excommunicate and punished by the censures of the same But now O Lord seeing that the spirit of our Lord Iesus Christ hath so farre preuailed in me that by the power therof I am now set at freedome by thy mercie am returned againe to the societie of thy Saints and mysticall bodie of thy Church I beseech thee for the obedience of our Lord Iesus Christ so to accept me sorowfull conuert and to allow of this mine vnfeined repentance and confession that my former inobedience and faults be neuer laid to my charge Haue mercie vpon me O God haue mercie vpon me and absolue me thy poore creature not onelie from the sentence of excommunication but also from the sinnes by me committed and from all censures of the Church laid against me for the same or before and that Lord giuen according to this my hartie and vnfeined repentance before thee and all this congregation and as I hartilie forgiue all the world that in anie thing hath offended against me O Lord pronounce thou my sinnes to be cleansed and they shall be cleansed absolue thou me from the chaine of mine iniquities wherewith I am fast tied and bound and I shall be absolued loose thou my sins in earth and they shall be loosed in heauen that being now by thy great goodnesse and mercie acquited and sent awaie vncondemned of thee as that sinfull woman taken in adulterie was from hir accusers and receiued againe to the societie of Iesus Christ into the bosome of his Church to the participation of his blessed Sacraments and finallie to the fruition of all thy benefits I may by the perpetuall assistance of thy holie spirit not onelie more and more be displeased with my sinnes and bridle hencefoorth my corrupt affections till Satan be cleane troden vnder my feet by the power of my redeemer Christ but also be so conducted in all the course of my life hereafter that I neuer fall into the like sinnes impietie and contempt of God and godlinesse anie more but that continuallie I may be subiect to the voice of the Church and to the ministers of the same and proceed dailie in all maner of good works and Christian obedience to the praise of thy holie name and edifieng of thy Church by
vs. We thanke thee we praise thee and we laud and magnifie thy glorious name O most meeke Lord for all thy benefits especiallie for that thou hast not thought it inough for thee to haue giuen vs the heauens and earth and all that is therin to serue vs and to instruct vs but also hast vouchsafed to send thine onlie deere beloued Sonne our Sauior Iesus Christ downe amongst vs into this vale of teares and after that he was ascended into heauen hast left vs thy holie word and sent thy holie Ghost into vs to the intent we should learne of him all truth in thy word might in deed behold more effectuallie better and cleerer thy Godhead We now also praie and humbly beseech thee O most mercifull God that thou wilt gouerne vs and driue awaie from vs all fleshlie conuersation to the intent we may hencefoorth liue a godlie and ghostlie life so that we through the flesh may not be hindered to passe our pilgrimage in such perfection as thou requirest in Christian men but that we may knowe and discerne and vse to thy glorie the vnmeasurable great good things which thy large and bountifull hand hath giuen and reached vnto vs through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A meditation of mans creation O Almightie Lord God that hast created heauen and earth and all that is therein of naught but especiallie hast made man vnto thine owne godlie image infunding and creating in him a reasonable soule not mortall nor transitorie as are the soules of vnreasonable beasts but such a soule as liueth like the spirit or ghost of God for euer By which soule man knoweth thee to be his God doth beleeue thee and shall behold thee And with soule and bodie together thou hast made man aboue all other creatures so much superiour and hast so highlie exalted him that thou hast made him prince and chiefe gouernour lord and captaine ouer all thy other creatures that be in the earth and hast cast them all vnder his feet and subiection O most mercifull Lord powre into vs thy heauenlie light through which we may euer haue in due regard the vile and lothsome stuffe or matter that thy godlie hand hath made vs of and how thou hast neuerthelesse exalted vs so mightilie of miserie Let vs knowe I saie O Lord that man is crept out of the dust and mire and the woman but out of the rib of hir husband to the end we may not by anie meanes be puffed vp with pride by vaine-glorie and presumption of the great glorie wherewith thou hast vouchsafed to endue and cloath vs but that in true humilitie we may impute and exhibit all things vnto thine onlie goodnesse clemencie grace and mercie And that we may bee drawne thereby vnto the loue of thee and to kindle the lampe of our soules which is cold in thy loue with the light of thy grace so that we may diligentlie fulfill and accomplish all that thou hast commanded vs and leaue that which thou hast forbidden vs like as it becommeth thine obedient children so that we both here in this vale of miserie and also afterward in that heauenlie paradise being vndefiled and like vnto thee may be found like as thou hast created vs like vnto thine owne similitude image likenesse through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Another meditation of mans creation THine almightie hand O GOD keeping alwaies at one staie created the Angels in heauen and the feelie woormes vpon earth and yet was neither higher in the one nor lower in the other For like as none other hand could haue created an Angel so could none other hand haue created a woorme like as none other could haue created heauen so could none other haue created a leafe of a tree like as none other could haue made a bodie so could none other make a haire white or blacke but onlie thine almightie hand wherevnto all things are possible alike For it is not more possible with thee to create a woorme than an Angel nor more impossible to spread out the heauen than a leafe nor easier to fashion a haire than to fashion a bodie nor vneasier to stablish the earth vpon the waters than the waters vpon the earth but all that thou listest to doo that hast thou done According as thou listedst thou hast made all things in heauen and in earth and in the sea and in all deepe places and among all other things thou hast made me according as thou listedst couldest and knewest how to doo it Certes Lord thy hand could haue made me some stone or some bird or some serpent or some beast and it knew how to haue done it but it would not bicause of thy goodnesse Why then am I not a stone some tree or some beast Trulie bicause thy goodnesse hath so ordeined it and bicause thou louedst me first And why hast thou done so to me O maker of heauen and earth and of the bottomlesse deepe who hast no neede of me Wherevpon commeth it that thou hast thus loued me For lo I am bicause thou hast created me and the cause that thou didst create me and account me in the number of thy creatures was thy fore-ordinance from euerlasting before thou madest anie thing euen from the beginning before thou didst spread all the heauens when as yet there were no deepes neither haddest thou yet made the earth nor founded the mountaines neither were anie water-springs yet broken out Before thou madest all these things I saie which thou madest by thy word thou foresawest by the most assured prouidence of thy truth that I should be thy creature and also thou willedst that I should be thy creature And whence commeth this to me O most gentle Lord most high God most mercifull Father and alwaies most meeke What had I deserued What kindnesse had I shewed that it should like thy roiall Maiestie to create me I was not and thou diddest create me I was nothing and of nothing thou madest me somewhat And what maner of somewhat Not a drop of water not fire not a bird or fish not a serpent or some of the brute beasts not a stone or a block not of those sort of things which haue but being onelie or of those things that haue but onelie being and growing nor yet of those kind of things that haue but onlie being growing and feeling But aboue all these things it was thy will to haue me both of that sort which haue but being onlie for I am and of those that haue no more but being and growing for I am and growe also of those kind of things which haue both being growing and feeling for I am and also doo both growe and feele Yea and thou hast made small ods betweene me and the Angels For I haue receiued reason to knowe thee and thy hand as well as they But I did well to saie there was some ods betweene vs. For they haue the happie knowledge of thee alreadie in possession and I
haruest thou wilt vouchsafe to bring vs into thy wished barne like good and clensed corne that is to saie into thine euerlasting kingdome there to rest with thy chosen Abraham Isaac and Iacob in all eternitie So be it The song of Anania Azariah and Misael wherein they exhort all creatures both in heauen and earth to praise and magnifie the Lord their maker O All ye works of the Lord blesse yee the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O ye Angels of the Lord blesse yee the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O ye heauens blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O ye waters that be aboue the firmament blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O all ye powers of the Lord blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O ye sunne and moone blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O ye starres of heauen blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O ye showers and dew blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O ye winds of God blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O ye fire and heate blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O ye winter and summer blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O ye dewes and frosts blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O ye frost and cold blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O ye yee and snowe blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O ye nights and daies blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O ye light and darknesse blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O ye lightenings clouds blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O let the earth blesse the Lord yea let it praise him and magnifie him for euer O ye mountaines and hils blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O all ye greene things vpon the earth blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O ye welles blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O ye seas and flouds blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O ye whales and all that moue in the waters blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O all ye fowles of the aire blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O all ye beasts and cattell blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O ye children of men blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O let Israel blesse the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O ye priests of the Lord blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O ye seruants of the Lord blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O ye spirits and soules of the righteous blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O ye holie and humble men of hart blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O Ananias Azarias and Misael blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer Glorie be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. Of the incomprehensible praise due vnto God for all his works and benefits HOW shall I do O Lord Whence shall I haue praise to praise thee withall For like as thou madest me without mine aduise as it liked thy selfe best so hast thou praise without me as it liketh thee Thou thy selfe Lord art thiue owne praise All thy works creatures both in heauen and earth praise thee according to thy manifold greatnesse Thy praise O Lord is incomprehensible no hart can comprehend it no tong can measure it no eare can receiue it for these things passe awaie but thy praise O Lord continueth for euer Thoughts haue a beginning and thoughts haue an end voices make a sound and foorthwith passe awaie the eare heareth and the hearing ceasseth but thy praise standeth fast for euer Who is he then that can praise thee What man is able to vtter foorth thy praises Thy praise is euerlasting and not transitorie That man praiseth thee which beleeueth thee to be thine owne praise The man praiseth thee which acknowledgeth himselfe vnable to attaine to thy praise O praise perpetuall which neuer fadest in thee is our praise in thee shall my soule be praised It is not we that praise thee but it is thou thy selfe that dooest it both thy selfe and in thy selfe and we also haue praise in thee Then haue we true praise when we haue praise of thee when light alloweth light for thou beeing the true praise yeeldest vs true praise And looke how often we seeke for praise at anie other bodies hand than thine so often doo we forgo thy praise because the other is shadowish but thine is euerlasting If we hunt after the transitorie praise we loose the eternall praise O praise eternall O my Lord God of whome is all praise without whome there is no praise I am not able to praise thee without thee Let me haue thee and I will praise thee For what am I of my selfe Lord that I should praise thee I am but dust and ashes I am but a dead and stinking dog I am but woormes and rottennesse I what am I to praise thee O most mightie Lord God How can the breath of no better than flesh praise thee which dwellest in euerlastingnesse Can darkenesse praise light or death life Thou art light I darkenesse thou life I death Can lieng praise truth Thou art truth and I am a woman no better than vanitie it self How shall I then praise thee O Lord Shall my wretchednesse praise thee Shall stinch praise sweet sents Shall mans mortalitie which is heere to daie and gone to morrowe praise thee Shall man which is but rottennesse or the sonne of man which is but woormes praise thee O Lord can he praise thee which is bred borne and brought vp in sinfulnesse Praise is not seemelie in the mouth of a sinner O Lord my God let thine owne incomprehensible power let thy vnbounded wisedome let thine vnspeakable goodnesse let thine ouerpassing mercie let thy superabundant pitie and let thine euerlasting vertue and Godhead praise thee Praised be thou by thine owne almightie puissance and also by thy singular gratious goodnesse and louingnesse whereby thou hast created vs O Lord the life of my soule Of Gods manifold benefits generallie with an humble thanks-giuing vnto his Maiestie for the same AND I thy handmaid whome thorough thy goodnesse thou hast created will to the vttermost of my power praise thee my God my creator my preseruer and my deliuerer with all my hart and call to mind all the good that thou hast done me from my youth vp to this instant For I knowe that
Queenes most prosperous gouernement hitherto and praieth for the continuance thereof to Gods glorie AMongst other thy benefits great and innumerable heauenlie father our most mercifull Lord and God by thee of thine exceeding goodnesse bestowed vpon the children of men the seruants of thy houshold dispersed vpon the face of the earth it hath pleased thee that we thy people of England liuing in these daies should in abundance beyond the measure of the graces of our brethren the prosperous course of our fathers behold and perceiue thine inestimable good will in the amiablenesse of thy countenance shining vpon vs to whom thou hast giuen thy chosen handmaiden Elizabeth for souereigne Ladie and Gouernour For whatsoeuer is for the glorie of thy house O Lord for vs it is which are the issue and slime of the earth and vnwoorthie to stand and looke vp to heauen made into vessels after thine image that were not to be redeemed and borne anew after the second Adam that perisheth not in the sprinkling of the bloud of Christ and sanctification of the spirit that were vtterlie lost to stand fast in thy hands sealed according to thine eternall loue and written in the booke of life that dailie runne headlong to our owne destruction As the sense heereof reioiceth the harts of all those whome thou hast knit into this fellowship of the Saincts and called into the blessed hope of the eternall kingdome so againe how vngratefull should we be to whome thou hast dealt these benefits from thy diuine Maiestie by the person raised vp for thine instrument thereof towards vs if we should not in speciall sort shew our selues thankefull vnto thee therefore And if not to liue tearing and eating one the other like the Giants in the old world and euerie man to doo what seemeth him best in his owne eies as when there was no Iudge in Israel If that princes reigne and Gouernours giue iudgement it is thy gift and then in the woorst disposition of their thoughts for the sinnes of the people they are redoubted Thou O Lord hast appointed them they are sacred Thou O Lord hast annointed them they are feared thou changest their harts like the streames of waters they are honoured Thine owne image likenesse in guiding Angels and all creatures is pregnant and cannot deuaile in them bearing rule in earth ouer the children of men What praise is due vnto thee from those vnto whome thou leauest not an Anarchie and headlesse dissolution As to the Canibals a monstrous and mis-shapen gouernement and fanning with fire and streaming with bloud and smoking with mist and darkenesse of errour and ignorance As to the Antichristes greased in the brow with the marke of the image of the great beaste whore of Babylon not a waste and barbarous perpetuall heathen contrition as vnto the Tartarian heards of cursed Cham vnto the rustie wasted with miserie the inhabitants of Meschech or to the turbulent and rauenous swarmes and hosts of Tubal-gog or such like as those but contrariwise whome thou leadest like a flocke of sheepe by the hands of Moses and Aaron and hast chosen Dauid thy seruant whome thou hast loued to feed as the people of thine owne inheritance giuing vnto them for warre peace for inciuilitie societie for ignorance knowledge for superstition religion for error truth for hunger plentie for vnprouidence policie for dissonancie harmonie for miserie felicitie and making them to dwell in safetie as vnder the wings of thy defence and shadowe of thy protection Now such hath beene thy mercie towards vs that no tongue is able to expresse in giuing vs in thy gratious pleasure and thine vnrecountable largesse and liberalitie thy select seruant Elizabeth Queene and supreame Gouernour to vs of the legue nations and peoples of hir obeisance and regiment that as by a starre the light and influence ouer things beneath from thee the first cause and fountaine of brightnesse not to be attained vnto and as by a cleere riuer and plentifull brooke the course of the waters from thee the euerlasting head-spring euen so the shining beames and flowing streames of all those thy mercies and good gifts haue beene and are sithence the daies of hir happie and gratious gouernement from thee conuaid and deuolued vnto vs. And we that before were no people not so much in regard of the estate in which we haled when we were sauage and wood men cruell as men-deuourers terrible as spirits brutish as beasts in the old age at the first calling home of our grand ancestors to humane ciuilitie but in these daies in few yeares degenerate from the true knowledge of thee and thy Sonne Iesus Christ vnto the consuming nakednesse of idolatrie and plaieng inordinate before the golden calfe of our owne making and our Priests Now the foure and twentith Sunne most happilie inuironeth in the firmament sithence by the meanes of a poore vessell of the weaker sexe and a sillie maiden thou performing the glorious deliuerance of thy people out of the thraldome and slauerie of Pharao and Egypt didst annoint the kings daughter with an holie oile setting a crowne of pure gold vpon hir head and inuesting hir with the purple and scepter and regall diademe of the Realme sithence which time O father we owe to thee and to hir our God and our Moses the breath of our nostrels the sight of this light the vse of this aire the ease of our harts the peace of our consciences and the whole worke of our welfare By hir inspired by thee spreading hir beames at hir appearing the bloudie launces and claunching murreans and the redoubling sheelds haue beene shattered asunder in shiuers and bated and foiled into mattockes and spades the flames of our furies quenched and put out and the poole of grace flowed ouer the Realme the Lion reconciled with the Lambe the wilde Asse set to be pastured with the seelie Kid the abhomination of desolation remoued from the holie Temple and the Sonne of man exalted and lift vp on high in his owne kingdome for all that were stoong by the firie Serpent to looke vpon and be saued In admirable lenitie Babylon hath put on Zion Egypt is become our owne Rahab the harlot denizoned in Ierusalem we become of the wild oliues the true garden plants of Ismael Israel of miscreant christian of painime protesting professing of Antichristian Romanists heathen idolaters faithfull Euangelicall sincerelie beleeuing woorshippers of thee in spirit and veritie according to thy holie word Neither hath cost beene spared nor occasion foreslowed nor time ouerpassed nor trauell intermitted to raise that was fallen to win that was withholden to call that was straied to heale that was wearied to find that was lost to restore that was ruined to repaire that was decaied to make good and enable that was abandoned Preachers haue beene sent foorth plentiouslie lawes haue beene executed mercifullie orders haue beene set downe politikelie dangers haue beene declined discreetly tumults haue beene appeased victoriouslie
praiers for hir life and safetie and shall dailie wish all prosperitie vnto hir And seeing the safetie of all the families of our nation consisteth in the preseruation of hir Maiestie let vs hartilie as we haue good cause praie incessantlie for hir Grace and for the safetie and welfare of the Church and of all those that loue and fauour hir therein Defend O God with thine owne hand this woorthie woman and sacred Queene whose endeuour thou hast vsed to restore peace to thy Church and religion to thy people O saue this woorthie Princesse Elizabeth I saie whome for this purpose thou hast indued with most rare and singular wisedome power constancie and roiall gifts of grace And grant that all men may dutifullie honour and obeie hir as a prince of peace a mother of Israel a nurse of thy Church woorthilie for hir vertues set ouer vs by thee O God to reigne Finallie grant that in this gouernement of our pastor chiefe shepheard there may want neither integritie vprightnesse in taking of counsell neither wisedome in performing all hir enterprises according to thy will Then shall wheate be reaped euerie-where with full handfuls in the verie tops of the mountaines the corne growing as high as the trees of Libanus and there shall be such a multitude of inhabitants in the cities that they may almost seeme like plants springing out of the earth yea then shall hir noble memorie and roiall fame be for euer euen durable as the sunne and our Queene Elizabeth be an example of all pietie and felicitie vnto all kingdoms nations of the world which shall accept hir blessed among women But vnto thee O Lord the Prince of the celestiall companies and the author of all things for so woonderfull rare gifts in hir Maiestie shall all possible praise be especiallie giuen yea the fame of thy glorie be praised and magnified for euer and euer and let it fill both heauen and earth So euen so let it be O God Amen Another dailie praier for the perpetuall happinesse of our sacred and most gratious Souereigne and Queene Elizabeth O Almightie God King of kings and Lord of lords in thine hand is all power both in heauen and in earth thou confirmest kingdoms againe doost alter them according to thine heauenlie pleasure we praise thee we magnifie thee we extoll thine holie name for that it hath pleased thee to appoint ouer vs a good and gratious Queene which dooth gouerne with counsell and rule with wisdome Grant hir we beseech thee continuall peace long life and much happines and deliuer not hir Maiestie into the hands of hir enimies Rule thou hir mind that she may serue thee alwaies in feare and reioice in trembling let hir maintaine and imbrace pure religion defend hir people in the profession of Christs Gospell against all errors and superstition whatsoeuer Giue hir wisedome and vnderstanding to doo such things as are gratefull in thy sight profitable for vs hir subiects and hurtfull to none O God eternall Father heare the petitions of Elizabeth our Queene in all hir troubles the name of Christ our Sauiour glorifie hir and the comfortable aid of the holie Spirit vphold hir now and euermore Be mindfull of hir grace for hir good Lord remember all hir offerings make hir praiers acceptable in thy sight Giue to hir according to hir harts desire fulfill all hir petitions and prosper all hir purposes that we may reioice in thy saluation and triumph in the name of thee our God Blesse hir Lord euermore that wee may knowe that hir protector is in the clouds Harken vnto hir from thy holie heauens Oh send hir helpe from thy sanctuarie and aid hir from aboue by thy mightie right hand which bringeth saluation Let all hir enimies plainlie knowe O GOD that thou wilt saue thine annointed For though some trust in horses and other in chariots yet will we remember the name of our God they shall fall and be ouercome but wee couragiouslie will persist O Lord protect hir Maiestie and heare vs when we call 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 and put a crowne of pure gold vpon hir head She hath asked life of thee and thou wilt giue hir a long life Great is hir glorie in thy saluation honour and fame hast thou put vpon hir Thou hast ordeined hir for exceeding blessednesse and doost comfort hir hart with thy cheerfull countenance And why Bicause she delighteth in Christ and doubteth not of thine euerlasting mercie O God that giuest victorie vnto kings and didst deliuer Dauid from perill of the sword saue and redeeme our deere Queene Elizabeth and deliuer hir from the hands of the children of another deuotion than she is whose mouth vttereth vanitie and their right hand is a right hand of falshood Yea let hir hand O Lord light vpon hir enimies and thy right hand find out all such as hate thee and enuie hir prosperitie Put them into a burning fornace in the time of thy displeasure the Lord in his anger shall consume them and fire shall deuour them Their fruit shalt thou destroy from the earth and their seed from the sonnes of men bicause they intended euill against thee and imagined mischiefe against the innocent which they could not bring to passe Therefore wilt thou turne them into flight and bend thy bowe against their faces Triumph O Lord in thy vertue and we will sing out thy glorie and commend thy power Saue our Queene O mercifull God in despite of all hir enimies which either secretlie or openlie go about to bring hir life to the graue or hir glorie to the dust Lord shield our Souereigne exalt thine annointed let thine hand assist and thine arme strengthen hir Neuer let hir foes preuaile against hir nor the child of wickednesse bring hir to destruction Banish from hir Court all hir priuie enimies and preserue hir euermore from dissembling friends Mercie and iudgement be Queene Elizabeths song vnto thee O Lord let hir sing thy magnificall mercies Worke in hir roiall hart an endeuour to be fullie instructed in the perfect waie of thy roiall lawes for so much as thou hast made hir Queene ouer this Relme With thy grace open hir hart instruct hir and lead hir vp and downe in the midst of hir people in perfectnesse of hart Let hir neuer set before hir eies anie diuelish thing Cause hir to detest the worke of back-sliding from God let that take no hold in hir Driue far awaie from hir the men of froward harts let hir not once be acquainted with euill persons Who so priuilie slandereth his neighbor let hir destroie him Who so hath also a proud looke and an hautie stomach cause hir to loath him Settle hir eies vpon such in the land as are faithfull that they may dwell
and properlie vpon all the holie Feasts and Saints daies throughout the yeere as they fall in order and are commonlie kept here in the Church of England and Ireland And first vpon the principall Feast daies of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ that is to saie On Aduent Sundaie In memorial of Christ his First comming in the flesh Christmas daie In memorial of Christ his Natiuitie and birth On New yéeres daie In memorial of Christ his Circumcision On Twelfe daie In memorial of Christ his Apparition On Ashwensday the 1. day of Lent In memorial of Christ his Fasting On First Sundaie in Lent In memorial of Christ his Temptation On Maundie Thursdaie In memorial of Christ his Last Supper On Good Fridaie In memorial of Christ his Passion On Easter daie In memorial of Christ his Resurrection On Ascension daie In memorial of Christ his Ascension On Whitsundaie In memorial of Christ his Sending of the holie Ghost On Trinitie Sundaie In memorial of Christ his The blessed Trinitie On Euerie Sundaie holie-day and working-day In memorial of Christ his Last comming to iudgment 1. On Aduent Sundaie Of the comming of Christ in the flesh The Preface BE of good cheere and feare not O you that are of a fearfull hart for behold your God commeth his owne selfe to take vengeance on his enimies and will deliuer you Hosanna to the sonne of Dauid O daughter Zion be glad O daughter Ierusalem reioice For lo the King commeth vnto thee euen the righteous thy Sauiour lowlie meeke and simple riding vpon the fole of an asse and bringing his recompense with him Blessed is he that commeth in the name of the Lord. Out of Zion hath God appeared in perfect beautie Hosanna in the highest Remember me O Lord according to thy fauor that thou bearest vnto thy people O visit me with thy saluation Hosanna Shew me thy waies O Lord and teach mee thy path Hosanna in the highest Hosanna The praier THE time is now at hand when the Church calleth into mind the benefits of the sonne of GOD which taking vpon him our fraile nature appeared to the world and came to visit vs in great humilitie And at the last daie and resurrection of all mankind will come againe in his glorious Maiestie to iudge both the quicke and the dead and shew himselfe both to punish his enimies with euerlasting paines and to adorne his Church and chosen people with eternall glorie Wherefore O Sonne of God Lord and Sauiour Christ which as this daie in roiall pompe didst enter into the holie citie Ierusalem for a publike testimonie of thine appearing remooue all impediments we praie thee that may hinder thy comming and make a plaine and most easie waie for thy selfe vnto vs. Gather vs we beseech thee into that companie which are prepared to receiue thee the King of all kings and which set foorth thy glorie in spirituall songs not onelie this daie through all the world but also continuallie and beare palmes of victorie before thee and spred their garments in the waie for ioie of thy comming Assist vs that being greatlie separated from the damned crue of diuels and wicked persons wee may sound and set foorth thy truth in perfect confession and righteousnesse all the daies and time of our life Bee thou our King both here in this world and hereafter in the world to come replenishing vs against all the wicked enterprises of thine enimies and making vs though babes and littleones to extoll and magnifie thy name for euer Keepe vs thy weake children depending vpon thee and running vnto thy lap euen as infants vnto their parents Make vs to followe thy words which through thy spirit doo sound within vs and powre thy wisedome into vs miserable men and women that the pride and power of thine enimies may be confounded Grant that with gratefull minds we may publish abroad thy glorious victorie according to our calling and abilitie cherish thy ministers and venter both our life liuing for the maintenance of thy truth Moreouer blesse vs O thou blessed seed of Abraham by the vertue of thy presence number vs among thy chosen which haue their names from thee And finallie giue vs grace now in the time of this mortall life so to cast awaie from vs the works of darknes and to put vpon vs the armour of light that in the last daie of thy second comming in the clouds we may rise through thee to life immortall and so being adorned with that glorie which thou hast receiued from thine eternall Father we may perpetuallie praise and extoll thy Maiestie both heere in this world and for euermore in the world of worlds to come Amen Hosanna to thee O sonne of God in the highest Hosanna 2. On Christmas daie Of the natiuitie and birth of Christ our Sauiour The Preface A Child is borne vnto vs and a sonne is giuen vnto vs. Glorie be to God on high Unto vs is borne this daie in the citie of Dauid a Sauiour which is Christ the Lord. Halleluiah The Lord sent a word vnto Iacob the same is come into Israel an euerlasting Prince of peace Halleluiah Mercie and truth are met togither righteousnesse and peace haue kissed each other truth shall flourish out of the earth and righteousnesse hath looked downe from heauen vpon vs to speake peace vnto his people and gladnesse to his Saints Halleluiah Of the fruit of thy bodie will I set vpon thy throne and in Zion shall I make the horne of Dauid to flourish Halleluiah The Sunne commeth foorth of his tabernacle the heauens as a bridegroome out of his chamber and reioiceth as a Giant to run his course Halleluiah He shall giue his Angels charge ouer thee to keepe thee in all thy waies they shall beare thee in their hands that thou hurt not thy foot against a stone Halleluiah For thou art fairer than the children of men full of grace are thy lips bicause God hath blessed thee for euer yea God euen thine owne God hath annointed thee with the oile of gladnesse aboue thy fellowes Halleluiah Therefore in this daie of thy power shall the people offer the free-will offerings with an holie worship bicause the dew of thy birth is of the wombe of the morning Halleluiah Glorie be vnto God on high in earth peace and good will towards men Halleluiah Halleluiah Halleluiah The Praier NOW is the ioifull time wherein all Saincts both in heauen and earth doo magnifie and praise almightie God for the incarnation of his onlie begotten Sonne our Sauiour Iesus Christ who as this daie was borne of the pure Uirgin Marie the which also the holie Angels of the Lord did celebrate with a most heauenlie song And no doubt the blessed companie of the elect departed out of this world enioieng the comfortable sight of God replenished with eternall wisedome light and righteousnesse yeeld most humble thanks vnto the Sonne of God their Sauiour and Redeemer for his incomprehensible goodnesse declared vnto mankind
death for our sinnes grant that thy holie spirit may worke that faith in vs whereby we may be made partakers of that righteousnes which hee hath for those that trust in him And because without the blessed hope of rising againe from the dead our faith is in vaine and we are yet in our sinnes therefore we beseech thee to confirme and strengthen it in vs that as thou hast alreadie raised vp Christ our head so we may be assured thou wilt also raise vs vp that the bodie may be ioined to the head And furthermore as thou hast left this holie storie of thy Sonne that we might beleeue in him and by faith obtaine euerlasting life so we beseech thee worke the fruit of it in vs in constant faith to the saluation of our soules and thy euerlasting glorie to whome with the Sonne and the holie Ghost be all honor praise and glorie now and for euer Amen Another ALmightie God and most mercifull heauenlie Father who according to all that had beene written before in y e lawe of Moses and in the Prophets that it behooued the Sauiour of the world to suffer death and to rise againe from the dead the third daie and that repentance and forgiuenes of sinnes should bee preached amongst all nations in his name and so from point to point hast fullie accomplished all these things in Christ Iesus thine onlie Sonne whome thou didst raise from the graue as this daie not onlie to liue againe in this world but euen to sit at thy right hand and prouiding for our infirmitie hast giuen vs a great manie of witnesses both of holie men and women vpon the earth and of Angels from heauen to confirme the truth of this matter vnto vs that we might haue strong assurance of saluation in him through faith Open our minds to vnderstand the holie Scriptures and grant vs stedfastlie to beleeue this thy Gospell that by this faith being made one with him we may receiue the forgiuenes of our sinnes and the estimation of righteous men in thy sight through him And furthermore also grant that by this his mightie conquest whereby he hath triumphed ouer the last enimie which is Death in raising himselfe againe vnto life we may both rise with him from the death of sinnes to the life of grace by leading a new conuersation and sit with him at thy right hand in hope hauing our life hid in him that when he shall appeare to come to iudgment our life also heere being led in the obedience of faith may then be made manifest and we receiue that which we now in faith possesse and in a blessed hope looke and wait for at his comming which is the saluation of our soules to the glorie of thy name to whome with the Sonne and the holie Ghost be all praise and honour now and for euer Amen A Thanks-giuing WE lift vp our harts vnto thee O Lord for it is verie meet right and our bounden dutie that we should at all times and in all places giue thanks vnto thee O Lord holie Father almightie euerlasting God but chieflie we are bound to praise thee for the glorious resurrection of thy sonne Iesus Christ our Lord. For he is the verie paschall Lambe which was offered for vs and hath taken awaie the sinnes of the world who by his death hath destroied death and by his rising to life againe hath restored to vs euerlasting life Therefore with Angels and Archangels and with all the companie of heauen we laud and magnifie thy glorious name euermore praising thee and saieng Holie holie holie Lord God of hoasts heauen and earth are full of thy glorie Glorie be to thee O Lord most high So be it 10. On Ascension daie Of Christ his glorious ascending into the heauens in the sight of his Apostles The Preface GOD is gone vp with a merrie noise and the Lord with the sound of the trumpet Glorie to God on high Halleluiah He humbled himselfe vnto the death wherefore God also hath highlie exalted him and set him on his right hand in heauenlie places far aboue all powers and dominion Halleluiah God is gone vp on high and hathled captiuitie captiue and receiued gifts for men Halleluiah He that descended first into the lowe parts of the earth is euen the same also that ascended vp far aboue all heauens to fulfill all things Halleluiah God is gone vp with a merrie noise the Lord is ascended in great triumph Halleluiah Lift vp your head O ye gates and be ye lift vp ye euerlasting dores that the King of glorie may enter in Halleluiah Yea be thou exalted Lord in thine owne strength so will we praise thy power perpetuallie and euermore sing Glorie to God on high Halleluiah The praier THou O Christ sonne of God fortie daies after thy resurrection continuedst in the world to the vnspeakable comfort of thy Church which being expired thou ascendedst gloriouslie in the sight of thy Saints into the heauens We yeeld thee most hartie thanks for this thy benefit beseeching thee most humblie to number vs among the saints and souldiers which wait vpon thee triumphieng The hand-writing dependeth on the testimonie of our giltie conscience to our condemnation but by thy death the sentence of condemnation is abolished and thy bloud washeth vs from all our sins The enimies of thine elect euen the diuell and death are lead bound and the whole companie of the saints both in heauen and earth is filled with ioie speake of thy victorie and benefits Thy Saints in heauen visiblie doo behold thy glorious victorie Thy Saints in earth are saued by faith for the ornament and glorie of the kings daughter is glorious within In the sight of manie godlie auditors of thine and of thy holie mother the blessed virgin Marie thou wast carried visiblie from the earth in the clouds into heauen Thou gauest a taste of eternall life to thine Apostles wondering at thy departure and preachedst to them of thy returne into iudgement Thou hast glorified thine humane nature with vnspeakable glorie and placed the same on the right hand of thy Father vpon the throne of triumph and victorie as hauing for our sakes vanquished all our enimies But thine humane nature is not onelie aboue as be thy Saints but is exalted also to such a light as cannot be attained to by anie creature Thou reignest visible with the Father replenishing the whole celestiall congregation with righteousnes and diuine glorie Gouerne thou also in this mortall life outwardlie in thy ministerie and inwardlie in our minds Thou hast ascended on high and lead captiuitie captiue to bestowe thy benefits vpon man Before thy departure thou renewedst the institution of thy ministerie thou gauest thy disciples a commandement to preach to all nations for which thy goodnesse we giue thee most hartie thanks for therby thou hast called vs to the societie of thy Saints Assist vs with thy spirit that we may beleeue the Gospell and keepe for euermore the
the lowest bottoms of the darke vallie and least the shadowe of the earth should come betweene and separate it from thee that art the bright sunne of righteousnes and least it once hid with the clouds of darknesse should not haue libertie but be letted to looke for heauenlie things which be aboue Therefore I doo assaie to go vpward vnto the ioies of quietnesse and peace and vnto the delectable and pleasant state of light O hold mine hart with thine hand bicause it cannot be drawne vnto high things without thee Thither doo I make haste whereas most chiefe and principall peace reigneth and continuall quietnesse shineth foorth Hold and gouerne my spirit and take it according to thy will that thou being a guide vnto it it may ascend into the region and countrie of plentifulnesse wheras thou feedest Israel euerlastinglie with the food of truth to the intent that there at the leastwise with my swift cogitation and thought I may come nigh thy wisedome which remaineth aboue all things ouerpasseth all things and gouerneth all things But alas there be manie things which when my soule would flie vnto thee doo crie out vpon it Command them all O Lord to hold their peace and speake not vnto me As for my soule it selfe let it giue neuer a word to answer Let it passe by all things Let it clime aboue althings that be created come vnto thee And that it may fasten the eies of faith vpon thee which art the onlie Creator of all things Let it couet vnto thee and be bent towards thee Let it thinke vpon thee by meditation and contemplation let it laie thee before hir eies for it selfe Let it roll and tosse thee in hir hart thee I saie which art the true and chiefe goodnesse and the ioie that will remaine without ending There are surelie manie contemplations in the which mans soule is maruellouslie fed of thee but in none of them is my soule so much delighted or yet hath so good rest in as in thee and when as it thinketh vpon thee and hath thee onelie in contemplation Oh how much is thy sweetnesse O Lord How maruellouslie dooest thou inspire the harts of them that loue thee How delectable is thy loue the fruition whereof they haue that loue nothing but thee they seeke nothing else they couet nothing else happie are they whose onelie hope thou art which haue no trust but in thee onlie and all their whole worke is praier Blessed is he that sitteth solitarie alone and holdeth his peace and standeth vpon his ward that he is set to keepe continuallie daie and night that yet whilest he is in this fraile bodie he may be able to taste somewhat thy pleasures I require thee by those thy wounds which bring health vnto vs which wounds thou sufferedst vpon the crosse for our health out of the which thy pretious bloud wherewith thou redeemedst vs did distill and drop downe wound this my sinful soule for the which also thou didst vouchsafe to die wound it I saie with the fire and mightie dart of thy great charitie For the word of God is liuelie and effectuous and more pearcing and sharpe than anie two edged sword Thou O chosen dart and most sharpe sword which art able by thy power to pearce through the hard shield or buckler of mans hart fasten and strike the shaft of thy loue in mine hart that my soule may saie vnto thee I am wounded with thy charitie so that foorth of that same wound of thy loue teares may flowe most plentiouslie both daie and night Strike O Lord strike I beseech thee this most indurated and hardened hart and mind of mine with the sharpe dart of thy loue and pearce it deeper deeper into the innermost parts thereof by thy mightie power and so bring out of my head aboundance of water and out of mine eies a verie well of teares continuallie running through the great affect and maruellous desire to see thy glorie that I may moorne daie and night without taking anie comfort in this life vntill in thy heauenlie wedding chamber I may see thee my welbeloued and beautifull spouse my God and my Lord and that there when I see thy glorious maruellous and beautifull face full of all sweetnes togither with them which thou hast chosen then I saie I may worship humblie thy Maiestie and there at the last being replenished with heauenlie and vnspeakable reioicing of euerlasting gladnesse I may euer crie out with them that loue thee saieng Behold that which I haue long desired now I haue obteined for I am ioined in heauen vnto him whome when I was in earth I loued with all my strength with all my charitie I embraced him vnto whome with all my loue I did sticke and cleaue Him doo I praise blesse and woorship that liueth and reigneth God world without end Amen Another praier to Christ ascended and reigning in glorie OH good Christ our first begotten brother and tender-harted Ioseph Oh naturall Sonne of that father to whome we are made children of adoption through thee Oh our head reigning on high in glorie forget not vs thy poore members heere on earth where-into abasing thy selfe thou cammest downe and sufferedst for vs most cruell death Out of this thy throne of maiestie and glorie thou puttest vs in assured hope and confidence that we also shall atteine to this blessed place whither thou art gone before to take possession for vs. Oh our strong tower of defence and succour what can hurt vs now trusting in thee Most vnhappie are they which are ignorant of thee and most happie are they which alwaies behold thee Blessed are they which haue knowne thee heere in the daies of this mortalitie but more blessed are they which see thee in the heauens and shall see thee reigning with thy Father in ioies incomparable Oh Lord the onelie ioie and comfort of our soules shew vs thy louing countenance embrace vs with the armes of thy mercie Receiue vs O good Ioseph thy yonger brethren with the kisse of comfort Powre into our harts thy holie spirit Plucke vs vp from the earth and earthlie things Open our eies and lift them vp vnto thee Open thy mouth and call vs vnto thee Open our eares that we may heare thee so that whatsoeuer wee doo speake or thinke it may be directed vnto thee alone our redeemer mediator and aduocate Amen Another THou Lord didst put awaie Marie Magdalen from thee kissing of thy feet because thy flesh was not yet exalted and she knewe not yet the dignitie of thy clarified bodie and beautified with the glorie of immortalitie but was addicted onlie to thy bodilie presence She yet sought thee liuing among the dead neither was it knowne to hir that thou wast equall with thy Father wherefore thou wouldest not suffer hir so much as to kisse thy feet because it was a thing vnworthie for thy Maiestie O thou mightie Lion of the tribe of Iuda thou conqueror of hell and death
art also the substantiall amitie betweene the Father and the Sonne we worship thee we praise and glorifie thee and with our whole hart we thanke thee for all thy benefits especiallie for calling vs by the voice of thy Gospell vnto the Christian congregation for illuminating vs with thy gifts for sanctifieng vs with a stedfast faith and for keeping vs hitherto in the same For by the fount of the wholesome lauour that is by the water of holie Baptisme being powred into vs thou dooest continuallie worke in vs regeneration and renewing of the inward man Harken we beseech thee vnto our supplication and teach vs miserable women which by the proper strength of our onlie reason can by no meanes trust in or approch to Christ our Lord and Sauiour teach vs O our God what thy pleasure is and leade vs into all truth For without thine assistance none can saie that Iesus is the Lord. O blessed Lampe of light fill the inward parts of the faithfull with the holie oile of thy manifold heauenlie gifts and graces without the which nothing is light and pleasant in man but euerie thing darke obscure and hurtfull Wash thou that is filthie water that is drie heale that is wounded bow the obstinate cherish the frosen and reclaime them which wander Giue to the faithfull trusting in thee the reward of wel-doing the entrance into happines and euerlasting comfort Thou in thy gifts seauen-fold which art the spirit of the Lord the spirit of wisedome and vnderstanding the spirit of counsell and strength the spirit of knowledge and of the feare of the Lord inspire into vs through the preaching of the Gospell thine heauenlie wisedome about thine essence and dinine pleasure which is hid from the world Grant that we may knowe the Father and the Sonne by thee and may alwaies beleeue that thou art the spirit of them both so worship one God in Trinitie and the Trinitie in vnitie whose will is that not one should perish but be conuerted liue and that as manie as beleeue in the Sonne should haue euerlasting life For the Father sent the Sonne not to condemne the world but that the world through him might be saued O lightener of the mind powre vpon vs thy new light and purge the horrible darkenes of our minds so that we may see knowe our chiefe Father whome pure eies onlie doo behold O thou heauenlie comforter giue vnto vs a testimonie and grant vnto our minds a token of the certaintie of our beleefe so that we doubt not neither wauer about thy diuine goodnes towards vs. Make our harts quiet and secure that with a full trust and confidence we may approch to the throne of thy heauenlie grace receiuing by adoption the right of children and inflamed with spirituall ioie in all boldnesse and libertie may crie Abba Father Thou most faithfull aduocate strengthen vs against all the assaults and temptations of sathan so that we may neuer doubt of thy diuine prouidence and predestination whereby we are chosen and called in Christ vnto euerlasting life and neuer being stroken with a seruile feare and oppressed with dreadfull doubtings may in a rage flee and forsake our God O surpassing comforter leaue vs not destitute of thine aid and patronage but vouchsafe euermore to be present with vs in our crosses troubles least otherwise we faint but rather make vs to reioice in tribulations knowing that a crowne of life is laid vp for such as loue him O thou teacher of men instruct vs how and what we ought to praie for according to thy will that we may be heard and make thou intercession for vs with sighes that can not be expressed O thou cleanser of the heart giue vs the simplicitie of mind without gall and bitternes which descendedst in Iordan vpon our Lord and Sauiour Christ in the likenes of a dooue that we may be void of bitter enuie and contention in our harts and haue no roote among vs that bringeth foorth gall and woormewood O thou substantiall flame proceeding from the breast of the Father and his eternall Sonne lighten our harts with the fire of chaste and burning loue Thou which appearedst as vpon this daie at the feast of Pentecost vnto the Apostles in clouen tongs like fire see our coldnesse and comfort vs with thy quickening heate and breathings that we may receiue thy chrisme and annointment O thou ghest of the soule make thee a mansion place within the secret parts of our hearts that we may be an house for thy diuinitie which may dwell perpetuallie in our members and neuer depart from vs through our Lord Sauiour Iesus Christ Amen A thanks-giuing WE lift vp our harts vnto thee O Lord GOD. For it is verie meet right and our bounden dutie that we should at all times and in all places giue thanks vnto thee O Lord holie Father the almightie euerlasting GOD through Iesus Christ our Lord according to whose most true promise the holie Ghost came downe this daie from heauen with a sudden great sound as it had beene a mightie wind in the likenes of fierie tongues lighting vpon the Apostles to teach them and lead them to all truth giuing them both the gift of diuers languages and also boldnesse with feruent zeale constantlie to preach thy Gospell vnto all nations whereby we are brought out of darknesse and errour into the cleere light and true knowledge of thee and of thy Sonne Iesus Christ Therefore with Angels and Archangels with all the blessed cōpanie of heauen we laud and magnifie thy glorious name euermore praising thee and saieng Holie holie holie Lord God of hosts heauen and earth are full of thy glorie Glorie be to thee O Lord most high So be it 12. On Trinitie Sundaie An acknowledgement of the almightie Trinitie and his vndiuided God-head essence power and maiestie The Preface WHen Iesus was baptised in the water lo the heauens opened and the spirit of God descended like a dooue and lighted vpon him and behold there came a voice from heauen saieng This is my deerlie beloued Sonne in whom I am well pleased Holie holie holie Lord God almightie Halleluiah There are three which beare record in heauen the Father the Word and the holie Ghost and these three are one Holie holie holie Lord God of Saboth Halleluiah The Praier O Most high Trinitie one onlie power and vndefiled maiestie our God God almightie the beholder and searcher of mine hart I the abiect and hindmost of all thy seruants confesse and acknowledge thee and being the least member of thy Church I woorship thee with a due sacrifice of praise for so much as I am able and can according to that which thou hast vouchsafed to endue me withall And forasmuch as I am destitute of outward gifts to offer vnto thee those vowes of praise which I haue of the gift of thy mercie behold willinglie and gladlie I offer them vnto thee which be an vnfeigned faith and a
health and my tongue shall sing of thy righteousnesse Thou shalt open my lips O Lord and my mouth shall shew thy praise For thou desirest no sacrifice else would I giue it thee but thou delightest not in burnt offerings The sacrifice of God is a troubled spirit a broken and contrite hart O God shalt thou not despise O be fauourable and gratious to Sion build thou the walles of Hierusalem Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifice of righteousnesse with the burnt offerings and oblations then shall they offer yong bullocks vpon thine altar 5. Domine exaudi Psal 102. HEare my praier O Lord and let my crieng come vnto thee Hide not thy face from me in the time of my trouble incline thine eares vnto me when I call O heare me and that right soone For my daies are consumed awaie like smoke and my bones are burnt vp as it were a firebrand My hart is smitten downe and withered like grasse so that I forget to eate my bread For the voice of my groaning my bones will scarse cleaue to my flesh I am become like a Pellicane in the wildernesse and like an Owle that is in the desert I haue watched am euen as it were a Sparowe that sitteth alone vpon the house top Mine enimies reuile me all the daie long and they that are mad vpō me are sworne togither against me For I haue eaten ashes as it were bread and mingled my drinke with weeping And that because of thine indignation and wrath for thou hast taken me vp and cast me downe My daies are gone like a shadowe and I am withered like grasse But thou O Lord shalt endure for euer and thy remembrance throughout all generations Thou shalt arise and haue mercie vpon Sion for it is time that thou haue mercie vpon hir yea the time is come And why thy seruants thinke vpon hir stones and it pitieth them to see hir in the dust The heathen shall feare thy name O Lord and all the kings of the earth thy Maiestie When the Lord shall build vp Sion and when his glorie shall appeare When he turneth him vnto the praier of the poore destitute and despiseth not their desire This shall be written for those that come after and the people which shall be borne shall praise the Lord. For he hath looked downe from his Sanctuarie out of the heauen did the Lord behold the earth That he might heare the mournings of such as bee in captiuitie and deliuer the children appointed vnto death That they may declare the name of the Lord in Sion and his woorship at Hierusalem When the people are gathered togither and the kingdomes also to serue the Lord. He brought downe my strength in my iournie and shortened my daies But I said O my God take me not awaie in the midst of mine age as for thy yeares they endure thoroughout all generations Thou Lord in the beginning hast laid the foundations of the earth and the heauens are the worke of thy hands They shall perish but thou shalt endure they shall all waxe old as doth a garment And as a vesture shalt thou change them and they shall be changed but thou art the same and thy yeares shall not faile The children of thy seruants shall continue and their seed shall stand fast in thy sight 6. De profundis Psal 130. OUt of the deepe haue I called vnto thee O Lord Lord heare my voice Oh let thine eares consider well the voice of my complaint If thou Lord wilt be extreame to marke what is done amisse oh Lord who may abide it For there is mercie with thee therefore shalt thou be feared I looked for the Lord my soule doth wait for him in his word is my trust My soule flieth vnto thee Lord before the morning watch I saie before the morning watch O Israell trust in the Lord for with the Lord there is mercie and with him is plentious redemption And he shall redeeme Israell from all his sinnes 7. Domine exaudi Psal 143. HEare my praier O Lord consider my desire hearken vnto me for thy truth and righteousnesse sake And enter not into iudgement with thy seruant for in thy sight shall no man liuing be iustified For the enimie hath persecuted my soule he hath smitten my life downe to the ground he hath laid me in the darkenesse as the men that haue beene long dead Therefore is my spirit vexed within me and my heart within me is desolate Yet doo I remember the time past I muse vpon all thy works yea I exercise my selfe in the works of thy hands I stretch foorth my hands vnto thee my soule gaspeth vnto thee as a thirstie land Heare me O Lord and that soone for my spirit wareth faint hide not thy face from me least I be like vnto them that go downe into the pit O let me heare thy louing kindnes betimes in the morning for in thee is my trust shew thou me the waie that I should walke in for I lift vp my soule vnto thee Deliuer me O Lord from mine enimies for I flee vnto thee to hide me Teach me to doo the thing that pleaseth thee for thou art my God let thy louing spirit leade me foorth into the land of righteousnesse Quicken me O Lord for thy name sake and for thy righteousnesse sake bring my soule out of trouble And of thy goodnesse slaie mine enimies and destroie all them that vexe my soule for I am thy seruant Glorie be to the Father to the Sonne and to the holie Ghost As it was in the beginning is now and euer shall be world without end Amen Heerevnto you may adde as occasion and time will serue these select and notable Psalmes of Dauid as they are at large in the Psalter that is to saie the 5 7 13 17 22 25 31 35 42 43 55 56 57 69 71 77 86 88. Other Psalmes or Praiers compiled out of holie Scriptures verie necessarie to be vsed of the afflicted soule for obteining the remission of sinnes and mitigation of miseries O Lord of lords GOD almightie great and dreadfull which by thy word hast made heauen earth the sea all things conteined in them Nothing is able to resist thy power thy mercie is ouer all thy works All things be vnder thy dominion and rule both man and beast and all liuing creatures Thou art mercifull to whome thou wilt and hast compassion on whome it pleaseth thee Thy counsell shall stand for euer and whatsoeuer thou wilt shall be done Power dominion and glorie is thine which art aboue all things and in all things and in vs all Thou art Father of mercies and God of all grace peace and comfort which wilt not the death of a sinner nor delightest in the damnation of soules O Lord God which art rich in mercie and of thine especiall loue towards vs euen when we were thine enimies didst send into the world thine onelie begotten Sonne Iesus Christ that whosoeuer beleeueth dulie in him
God Grant also that both being in bed asleepe and awake we may alwaies remember our death which is a passing to an immortall life and withall our ioifull resurrection to euerlasting glorie Finallie at our last gaspe when our harts pant our strength faileth our sight departeth our hearing is deafe our mouth dumbe when our feet cannot go nor our hands feele when all our senses forsake vs giue vs O blessed Trinitie some sense of eternall life that we may tast in this world the beginning of thine euerlasting ioie and at our departure out of this world behold by faith thy diuine presence and so sleepe quietlie to eternall life Amen Amen Lord haue mercie vpon vs. Christ haue mercie vpon vs. Lord into thy hands we commend our soules because thou hast redeemed vs. Lord Iesu receiue our spirits At mid-night if you happen to awake praie HAue mercie vpon me O God after thy great goodnesse according to the multitude of thy mercies doo awaie mine offenses Turne thy face from my sinnes and put out all my misdeeds Make me a cleane hart O God and renew a right spirit within me Cast me not away from thy presence and take not thy holie spirit from me I will remember thee O God in my bed and thinke vpon thee now that I am waking because thou hast beene mine helper Euen now in the night season while thou holdest mine eies waking I saie will I thinke of thee my creator and make my praiers vnto thee my redeemer and God of my life that my soule may not refuse hir comfort In my bed now by night will I seeke thee whom my soule loueth O let me find thee and my soule embrace thee For with my soule doo I desire thee now in the night season and with my spirit within me will I seeke thee in the morning Yea at mid-night I will arise vp to giue thanks vnto thee O Lord because of thy righteous iudgements and in the night watches I will lift vp my hands towards thy holie place and blesse thee and powre out my hart before thee and saie Haue mercie vpon me O God haue mercie on me a most miserable sinner From the snares of the diuell O Lord deliuer me from the mid-night euill defend me and in the houre of death helpe me Our father which art in heauen c. Meditation AT mid-night there was a crie made Behold the bridegrome commeth go out to meet him blessed are those virgins whom the Lord when he commeth shall find waking O my soule let vs therfore take héed watch and praie that wée may bée found prepared with our Lamps burning readie to enter with our spouse and Lord Iesus vnto the wedding In the night when you heare the clocke strike praie THE clocke of our conscience dooth ring euerie minute the houre of death to be at hand O mercifull God grant vnto me therefore I beseech thee a happie houre blessed departure out of this life whensoeuer it shall please thee to call me hence and cause my soule to flie out of this bodie Be mercifull vnto me O God be mercifull vnto me a most miserable sinner and deliuer me from the houre of temptation death and damnation through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Meditation HE that hath ears to heare let him heare The daie of the Lord will come as a théefe in the night Watch therefore because yée know neither the daie the time nor the houre when the sonne of man will come to iudgement VVhen you giue your selfe to sleepe againe and commend your selfe last to God Praie INto the hands of thy vnspeakable mercie O Lord I commend my wretched soule and bodie my senses speech counsell thoughts works all things belonging vnto me my lieng downe and rising vp my faith and conuersation the whole course and end of my life the daie and houre of my departure out of this world finallie my death buriall rest and resurrection beseeching thee O Lord now suffer mine eies to sleepe mine eie lids to slumber the temples of my head to take some rest that my bed may comfort me and my couch giue me some refreshing Grant that I may so sleepe gouerne and end my life that I may sleepe in peace and rest in thee Sticke thou to me O my God euen to the end that sleepe with rest and rest with quietnesse quietnesse with euerlastingnesse may receiue me For lo I giue my selfe once againe to sleepe and rest in the name of thee O Father Sonne and holie Ghost euermore crieng and saieng Haue mercie on me O glorious Deitie Haue mercie on me O triumphant humanitie Haue mercy on me O blessed Trinitie and receiue my spirit yea rather thy spirit into thy holy hands send me a ioifull resurrection with all thy Saints elect people Amen Amen The Conclusion NOt vnto vs O Alpha not vnto vs O Omega but vnto thy name O Iehoua be giuen all the glorie for thy louing mercie and for thy truths sake For thou hast directed the thoughts of our harts and prospered the works of our hands vpon vs euen thou I saie O Lord hast gouerned all our counsels enterprises from heauen hast gratiouslie wrought all our works for vs. O let our mouthes therfore be filled with thy praise and make vs continuallie thankefull that we may giue woorthie honor and glorie to thée for so great graces and manifold benefits bestowed vpon vs. And now forsomuch as thou hast giuen euerie one of vs that portion of thy graces that hath pleased thée and hast commanded vs to occupie and vse them to thy honor till thou come grant vs whether we haue receiued little or much that we doo not idelie or slothfullie neglect our dutie herein Suffer vs not I saie O swéet Christ with the rest of the world to fall asléep in the pleasant vanities of this life and to forget the waiting for thy comming but rather stirre vs vp by thy holie spirit faithfullie to vse thy gifts giuen vnto vs and in all warie watching fasting and earnest praier continuallie to prosper and go forward in our holie calling prouoking one another by good example to followe thée in true worship and due obedience and grant that all ambition vaine glorie hypocrisie and dissimulation being remooued our chéefe care may be in all our dooings studies and labours euer to séeke the increase of thine honor and the aduancement of thy kingdome and so with a single eie respecting the praise which is of thée looke and wait for the reward and recompense of our labours not of men but of thée that in that daie of thy second comming which shall be sudden and fearefull to the wicked we may with ioie and comfort méet thy sonne in the aire and when thou shalt heare our accounts we may also receiue of thée through our redéemer Iesus not onlie praise and commendation as thy good and faithfull seruants whose liues are hid in thée but also obtaine the finall
hun then shall I feele his loue increase in me But because my loue is not a worthie loue to him I desire his loue to be mine which I feele such as it were mine owne his desire is to loue and his loue inflameth my hart with a heauenlie loue And through such loue he findeth himselfe that his owne deede yeeldeth him well content and not my loue or strength thus contenting himselfe his loue doth more increase in me than I can of him desire The eight Chapter Of the incomprehensible loue of Christ to the sinfull soule and benefits that come of a true faith O True louer the fountaine or welspring of all charitie and onlie purse of the heauenlie treasure Ought I to thinke or dare I saie what thou art May I write or can anie mortall man comprehend thy goodnesse or loue And if thou print in mans hart can he expresse it No surelie For the capacitie of man cannot comprehend the vnmeasurable goodnesses which are in thee For naturall reason doth shew vs how there is no comparison betweene an eternall and a mortall thing but when through loue the mortall is ioined with the eternall the mortall thing is so filled with the eternall that it cannot find the end thereof for it hath more good thereby than it can conteine or hold Therfore doth man thinke which hath one sparke of the loue of God that he hath all the world therewith euen as we see the Sunne with one onlie sparke of his light doth blinde the eie and yet doth he withhold from it his great light If then you should aske the eie what it hath seene he would saie that it hath beholden the whole brightnes of the same Neuerthelesse he is so content that it seemeth vnto him as though he had so much light as the Sunne conteineth which if he had more than the said sparke he were not able to suffer it Euen so the soule which through faith doth feele one sparke of the loue of God doth finde therewith the heate so great and maruellous so sweet and delicious that it is impossible to hit to declare what thing the same loue is For the little thereof that she hath felt doth yeeld hir mind satisfied and yet desiring more where of she hath ynough thus doth she liue languishing and sighing in hir selfe The hart that doth feele that he hath receiued too much hath conceiued such a desire in this too much that he alwaies desireth to receiue the thing which he cannot haue neither is he worthie to receiue it He knoweth not the good that he hath alreadie to be vnspeakable yet would he haue more of that where of he cannot skill trulie he cannot feele or thinke the good which is in him Then lieth it not in my power to tell what thing the loue of God is sith I haue no knowledge of the feruentnesse thereof He that thinketh to haue all this loue within his hart can not trulie declare what thing it is happie is he therefore which hath such aboundance of this loue that he may saie My God I haue ynough of it He which hath this loue within him dare not much boast thereof least in much speaking he do loose it vnlesse he do it to edifie his neighbour to saluation The impossiblitie then of the declaration of this loue shall make me hold my peace For there is no sainct so perfect if he will speake of the loue of the high God of his goodnes sweetnes graces and of all things else which pertaine to him but looking a lowe shall find himselfe vnworthy and so stop his mouth I then a worme of the earth lesse than nothing ought to cease and not to speake of the incomparable highnesse of this loue yet were it too much vnkindnesse to be noted in me if I had written nothing hauing that done vnto me which would satisfie a much better wit than mine is For hee that would hide the goodnesse of God so good a maister should commit a sin worthie to be punished with euerlasting paine Therefore come O happie Paule which hast tasted so much of the same sweet honnie beeing blind for the space of three daies and rapt vp into the third heaven and satisfie I beseech thee mine ignorance and tell me what in such vision thou hast seene Harken then what he saith O the vnspeakable highnes of the aboundant riches or treasure both of the wisdome and knowledge of God! How incomprehensible are his iudgements and how vnsearchable are his waies vnto our weake wits O holie Paule thy words cause me much to maruell that thou hauing knowledge and so heauenlie secrets wouldest speake no further in them At the least yet tell thou me what thing I may hope to haue throgh such godlie loue as grace hath wrought in me and I will giue eare vnto thy words neither hath the eie seene nor yet the eare heard neither yet hath it euer entred into the hart of man what GOD hath prepared for them that loue him O blessed Paul all this yet that thou hast said is for none other purpose but to prouoke me earnestlie to loue willing me by thy words to thinke that thou canst none otherwise declare of it and so giue mine hart to patience and hope of that thing which neuer man yet could see or yet deserue although manie through loue haue died O excellent gift of faith whereof so much good commeth that it causeth man to possesse the things which he can not comprehend For faith ioined with truth bringeth foorth hope whereby perfect charitie is engendred and charitie is God as witnesseth the Apostle If we haue charitie then haue we also God therewith and then is God in vs and we in him and all this commeth of the benefit of faith For he dwelleth in all men which haue true faith Thus haue we a greater treasure than we can tell of nor yet anie man expresse vnto vs. Now to conclude sith that so great an Apostle as is S. Paule will speake no further of God and his inestimable loue I will according to his righteous example and doctrine hold my peace and be still following neuerthelesse his teachings Notwithstanding though herein I acknowledge my selfe but earth and dust yet may I not faile to yeeld thanks to mine eternall and liuing God for such great graces and benefits as it hath pleased him to giue me Unto that euerlasting King of heauen immortall inuisible incomprehensible mightie and wise onlie to him be all honour praise glorie magnificence and loue for euer and euer Amen ¶ These foure clauses or texts of Scripture are added to the worke by the Queenes Maiestie Ecclesiasticus 25 verse 17. THere is not a more wicked head than the head of a Serpent and there is no wrath aboue the wrath of a woman But he that hath gotten a vertuous woman hath gotten a goodlie possession she is vnto him an helpe and piller wherevpon he resteth It were better to dwell with a Lion
and Dragon than to keepe house with a wicked woman Ecclesiasticus 7 verse 19. Yet depart not from a discreete and good woman that is fallen to thee for thy portion in the feare of the Lord for the gift of hir honestie is aboue gold ¶ The Christian praiers of our Souereigne Ladie Queene Elizabeth which hir grace made in the time of hir trouble and imprisonment in the Tower and after hir Coronation HElpe me now O God for I haue none other friends but thee alone And suffer mee not I beseech thee to build my foundation vpon the sands but vpon the rocke whereby all blasts of blustering weather may haue no power against mee Amen Another praier made by hir Maiestie when she was in great feare and doubt of death by murther GRant O God that the wicked may haue no power to hurt or beetraie me neither suffer anie such treason and wickednesse to proceed against me For thou O God canst mollifie all such tyrannous harts and disappoint all such cruell purposes And I beseech thee to heare me thy creature which am thy seruant and at thy commandement trusting by thy grace euer so to remaine Amen Another praier and thankesgiuing made by hir grace as she rode in hir Chariot from the Tower to be crowned Queene at Westminster O Lord almightie and euerlasting God I giue thee most hartie thanks that thou hast beene so mercifull vnto me as to spare mee to behold this ioifull daie And I acknowledge that thou hast dealt as woonderfully with me as thou didst with thy true and faithfull seruant Daniel the Prophet whom thou deliueredst out of the den from the crueltie of the greedie raging lions euen so was I ouerwhelmed and onelie by thee deliuered To thee therfore be onlie thanks honour and praise for euer and euer Amen The rest of the praiers belonging to hir Maiestie to vse are to be found in the beginning of the third Lampe WILLIAM CICILL hauing taken much profit by the reading of this Treatise following wisheth vnto euerie Christian by the reading thereof like profit with increase from GOD. MOst gentle and Christian Reader if matters should bee rather confirmed by their reporters than the reports warranted by the matters I might iustlie bewaile our time wherin euill deeds be well worded and good acts euill cleaped But sincere truth is that things be not good for their praises but be praised for their goodnesse I doo not mooue thee to like this Christan Treatise bicause I haue mind to praise it but I exhort thee to mind it and for the goodnes thou shalt allow it for whose liking I labour not to obteine onelie mooued by mine example their iudgement Iregard chieflie confirmed by the matter Trulie our time is so disposed to grant good names to euill fruits and excellent termes to meane works that neither can good deeds enioie their due names being defrauded by the euill neither excellent works can possesse their woorthie termes being forestalled by the meane insomuch that men seeke rather how much they can than how much they ought to saie inclining more to their pleasure than to their iudgement and to shew themselues rather eloquent than the matter good so that neither the goodnes of the cause can mooue them to saie more neither the euilnes lesse For if the excellencie of this Christian contemplation either for the goodnes herein to maruell appearing either for the profit herevpon to the Reader ensuing should be with due commendation followed I of necessitie should either trauell to find out new words the old being anticipated by euill matters or wish that the common speech of praising were spared vntill conuenient matters were found to spend it such is the plentie of praising and scarsenes of deseruing Wherefore lacking the maner in words and not the matter in deed of high commendation I am compelled to keepe in my iudgment with silence trusting whom my report could not haue mooued to like this present Treatise the woorthinesse of the matter shall compell to giue it honour Anie earthlie man would soone be stirred to see some mysterie of magike or practise of Alchumie or perchance some inchantment of elements but thou which art christened hast here a woonderfull mysterie of the mercie of God a heauenlie practise of regeneration a spirituall inchantment of the grace of God If ioie and triumph be shewed when a kings child is borne to the world what ioie is sufficient when Gods child is regenerated from heauen The one is flesh which is borne of flesh the other is spirit which is borne of spirit The one also shall wither like the grasse of the earth in short time the other shall liue in heauen beyond all time If the finding of one lost sheepe be more ioifull than the hauing of ninetie and nine what ioie is it to consider the returne of a straie child of almightie God whose returne teacheth the ninetie and nine to come to their fold Euen such cause of ioie is this that the Angels in heauen take comfort herein Be thou therefore ioifull when a noble child is newlie borne shew thy selfe glad when the lost sheepe hath wonne the whole flocke be thou not sad wherein Angels reioise Here maist thou see one if the kind may mooue thee a woman if degree may prouoke thee a woman of high estate by birth made noble by marriage most noble by wisedome godlie by a mightie King an excellent Queene by a famous HENRIE a renowmed KATHERINE a wife to him that was a King to Realmes refusing the world wherein she was lost to obtaine heauen wherein she may be saued abhorring sinne which made hir bound to receiue grace whereby she may be free despising flesh the cause of corruption to put on the spirit the cause of sanctification forsaking ignorance wherein she was blind to come to knowledge whereby she may see remoouing superstition wherewith she was smothered to imbrace true religion wherewith she may reuiue The fruit of this Treatise good Reader is thine amendment this onelie had the writer is satisfied This good Ladie thought no shame to detest hir sinne to obteine remission no vilenes to become nothing to be a member of him which is all things in all no follie to forget the wisedome of the world to learne the simplicitie of the Gospell at the last no displeasantnesse to submit hir selfe to the schoole of the crosse the learning of the Crucifix the booke of our redemption the verie absolute librarie of Gods mercie and wisedome This waie thought she hir honour increased and hir state permanent to make hir earthlie honour heauenlie and neglect the transitorie for the euerlasting Of this I would thee warned that the profit may ensue These great mysteries and graces be not well perceiued except they be surelie studied neither be they perfectlie studied except they be diligentlie practised neither profitablie practised without amendment See and learne hereby what she hath doone then maist thou practise and amend that thou canst
Christ for this thy blessed oblation haue mercie on me now and in the houre of death that in the dreadfull daie of iudgment sinne death and hell may not preuaile against me sinfull creature but haue mercie vpon me according to thy greatest mercie which is this thy death and passion for which be praise to the holie Trinitie for euer and euer Amen The Hymne of the passion of Christ IEsus which is the liuelie well of wisdome And the heauenlie truth of the father eternall Which from heauen to this world did come To deliuer vs thrales from paines infernall Of Iudas was sold and of the Iewes taken And of his Disciples at midnight was forsaken We laud thee father for thy grace We praise the sonne which made vs free We thanke the holie spirit for our solace Which is one God and persons three In the dawning of the daie they did him fast bind And before Pilate he was then conuented False witnesse against Iesus they did then find When the cruell Seniours in iudgement him presented Beaten was his bodie defiled was his face And yet God and man the verie well of grace We laud thee father c. When thrée houres were past before Pilates throne All the people cried Kill Iesus the Iewes king His crowne was thornes in purple he made mone With a crosse ouer Cedron they did him bring And prepared his deadlie place on Galgatha hill To suffer pains for Adams gilt so was his fathers will We laud thee father c. The sirt houre approched his painefull end When on the trée his bodie they nailed In heauen was his helpe in earth he had no freud He died betwéene two théeues on him the Elders railed Then he thirsted for his elect which subiect were to thrall Unthankefullie they offred him vinegre mingled with gall We laud thee father c. This verie God Gods onlie begotten child Said to his father Why hast thou me forsaken Yet receiue this sacrifice and my spirit vndefild The heauens were darkned asunder the stones were shaken Bloud and water then sprang from this blessed lamb Then graues opened the dead aliue foorth came We laud thee father for thy grace c. The second Meditation or praier of our frailtie and miserie O Miserable wretched woman that I am how may I be compared to any of thy saints that shall dwell in thy Tabernacle or holie hill For they loue to be in holie contemplation and I in the vaine multitude forgetting thee they be meeke and I vnpatient they do not forget thee but my good Lord when do I remember thee but when affliction enforceth me or the lamentable fall of my breethren constraine me to thanke thee Thou most mightie and fearefull God of hosts thy holie name be blessed foreuer Amen What shall I saie my God Thou art most good and I euill thou holie and I miserable thou art light and I am blind thou art the blessed ioie and I am carefull and full of sorowe My Lord thou art the Physician and I the miserable patient I am nothing but vanitie and corrupt as euerie liuing man is What shall I saie O Creator but this that I am thy creature and shall I perish Thy hands haue made me and were wounded for me thy bloud was shed for me and hath washed me thy holie Ghost hath sanctified me and taught me yet Lord my daies are nothing What should I mortall creature thus talke with my selfe Lord God but that need hath no lawe Sorowe hath compelled me to seeke comfort sicknesse enforceth me to folowe the Physician conscience pricketh me to crie to thee my Lord for a heauenlie cordiall of comfort which am in great discomfort borne of a woman full of miserie and shortnesse of time and passe awaie like a shadowe neuer content with one estate but in earth remaine for euer The Hymne to God the Creator O Creator to thée thy creature I call Who made of mould do liue in paine And sicke in soule my flesh is thrall O wo is me my daies be vaine Yet vnto God I call for grace My soule in heauen to haue a place A praier to the blessed Trinitie Let vs praie O Holie blessed and glorious Trinitie three equall and coeternall persons but one God almightie haue mercie vpon me vile abiect abhominable and sinfull wretch meekelie acknowledging before thy diuine Maiestie my long continued life in sinne euen from my childhood hitherto Then good gratious Lord as thou giuest me the grace to acknowledge them so giue me grace not in word onlie but in hart also with sorowfull contrition to repent and vtterlie to forsake them Forgiue me also those sinnes through which by mine owne fault wicked affection and euill custome my reason is with sensualitie so blinded as I cannot discerne them for sinne Illuminate my hart good Lord and giue me grace to acknowledge them Forgiue me my sinnes negligentlie forgotten and bring them to my mind with grace to be throughlie repentant for them O mercifull God grant me thy grace so to despise sinne and all worldlie vanities that I may saie with the blessed Apostle Saint Paule The world is crucified to me and I to the world Christ is to me life and to die is my gaine and aduantage I desire to be loosed and to be with Christ Lord giue me thy grace to amend my life and to haue an eie to mine end without anie grudge or feare of death which to them that die in thee is the gate of eternall life Almightie God teach me to doo thy will take my right hand and leade me in the true waie from mine drawe me after thee bind my mouth with snaffle and bridle when I will not drawe vnto thee Oh gratious God all sinfull feare all sinfull sorowe and pensiuenesse all sinfull hope all sinfull mirth and gladnesse take awaie from me On the other side concerning such feare such heauinesse such comfort consolation and gladnesse as shall be profitable for my soule doo with me according to thy great goodnesse O Lord giue me grace in all my feare and agonie to haue recourse to that great feare and wonderfull agonie that thou my sauiour hadst at the Mount of Oliuet before thy most bitter passion and in the meditation thereof to conceiue ghostlie comfort and consolation profitable for my soule Almightie God take from me all vaine-glorious minds all appetites of mine owne praise all enuie couetise gluttonie sloth and lecherie all wrathfull affection all appetite of reuenging all desire of delight of other mens harmes all pleasure in prouoking anie person to wrath and anger all delight in taunting or mocking anie person in their affliction or trouble And giue vnto me O Lord an humble quiet peaceable patient charitable kind tender and pitifull mind in all my words my works and thoughts to haue a tast of thy holie and blessed spirit Giue me good Lord a full faith a firme hope a feruent charitie a loue to thee good Lord incomparable
wounds and his glorious bodie all to bee scourged in thy diuine presence who thereby doth mitigate thy wrath and indignation iustlie conceiued against me a miserable and wretched creature and all mankind Make me Lord still to confesse mine vnwoorthinesse and weaknesse to be such and so great that of my selfe I am not worthie to lift vp mine eies to heauen much lesse to be called thy sonne or handmaiden such and so great is the burden of my sinne iniquitie so that by the meanes of my corruption filthinesse I acknowledge my selfe to be the child of death and destruction yet build I still on thy promises good Lord and in this great danger I come vnto thee with teares saieng O Father I haue sinned against heauen against thee and am no more woorthie to be called thy child Of my selfe I haue nothing but by thee I haue althings of my selfe I acknowledge I haue iustlie deserued the heauie sentence of thine ire but by grace of thee O mightie Emanuel I am regenerate and borne againe from death to life from danger to ioie from perill to peace from bondage to libertie and so in fine from hell and damnation to blisse and saluation Such is the effect of thy mercie so abundant is thy loue towards me all those that with contrite harts present themselues vnto thee Increase my faith Lord that it may abound in good and fruitfull works so fortifie me that I neuer swarue from thy veritie giue me thy grace from aboue O mercifull Iesu that I may neuer shrinke from thy sacred testimonies And moreouer I with all humilitie and reuerence of hart and mind beseech thee this night which thou hast ordeined for man to rest in that thou wilt gard and protect me with thy good guiding spirit And albeit my sinfull flesh shall sleepe and slumber yet grant good Lord that my soule may continually keepe watch and ward let not the enunie find me slumbering sleeping as carelesse in the cradle of sinfull securitie least that whilest I am vnarmed that is naked and destitute of thy grace and fauour he enter in and breake vp the house of my sinfull bodie and make such hauocke and spoile that mine infected and leporous soule deformed by meanes of mine iniquitie and wounded with the dangerous darts of transgression be thrown with the bodie of sinne into the lake of destruction wherein is continuall wailing and gnashing of teeth Make me still O good Lord to consider that the bed is a plaine patterne and similitude of the graue which continuallie calleth for me all other thy creatures Make me to vnderstand that when I am laid of my selfe without thy heauenlie prouidence I can not bee able to rise againe Make me to acknowledge that sleepe is the verie figure of death to whose stroke at thine appointed pleasure I must submit my selfe Indue me with loue and charitie to all men let my lampe O Lord be garnished with oile that whensoeuer or at what time soeuer thy messenger death shall drawe me and knocke at the gates of my house I may at his summons in the daie of the resurrection of the dead be readie to attend on thee and thy bride with my burning lampe that is with a stedfast faith when as by thee I shall be cloathed anew For my mortall bodie shall then be couered with immortalitie the corruption of my sinfull and rebelling flesh shall be changed to incorruption and perfect puritie thy righteousnesse shall be mine thy merits shall make me perfect and holie by vertue whereof hell shall loose his victorie death shall loose his sting my faith and hope shall haue end and reward and I with thy Saints continuallie dwell in loue charitie with thee the heauenlie bridegroome Christ Iesus to whom with the father and the holie Ghost bee ascribed all laud glorie power praise and dominion for euer Amen A praier for the remission of sinne and to obteine a vertuous life FOrasmuch as O bountifull Lord it is most meet right and iust that all flesh shuld praise magnifie and worship thee and should without ceasing giue thanks vnto thee who onlie art the Creator and maker of all things as well visible as inuisible who onlie art the treasure of all goodnesse and well of life onlie God and Lord whome the heauens and heauen of heauens the sunne the moone the starres the earth the sea with all that moue therin yea the heauenlie companie of Martyrs the soules of the Prophets and Apostles Angels Archangels togither with the soules of all iust and righteous persons doo laud and glorifie It is most requisite that ech mortall creature liuing in this world should also acknowledge thy magnificence Wherfore most mercifull father I with my hart and mouth doo acknowledge thee to be my King and Lord the giuer of all goodnesse I confesse thee to be omnipotent reuerend merciful long suffering God of all consolation comfort mercie and pitie I knowe that of thine infinite goodnesse onelie thou diddest make man after thy similitude and likenesse placing him in the most delectable place of Paradyse And although he did transgresse thy commandement and thereby deserued eternall death and damnation yet thou like a most louing and pitifull Father diddest not vtterlie reiect him but gentlie correct him and after that thou hadst sent him into the earth commanding him there to increase and multiplie thou didst instruct his posteritie with thy lawe thou didst teach them by thy Prophets and after that sentest downe thine onlie begotten sonne to take vpon him our nature and to suffer death for our sinnes therby to make a recompense for the offence which man had committed against thee and all this thou didst of thine exceeding great mercie and kindnesse without anie desert of mankind not being so much as by anie one praier or yet intreatie therevnto incited Therefore I being boldened with such inestimable benefits so freelie giuen and bestowed doo without any feare at this time appere before thy diuine Maiestie prostrating my slefe before the seate of thy mercie and with all humblenesse of hart and mind doo make this my praier vnto thee Despise me not O Lord God being defiled with sin and iniquitie For behold I present my selfe before thee not presuming vpon mine owne woorthinesse but trusting in thy goodnesse Be mercifull vnto me a sinner light thou the dull sighted eies of my mind open thou the stopped eares of mine hart that I may both see heare perceiue and vnderstand that which thou teachest and alwaies doo that which thou commandest Make me not onelie a hearer of thy heauenlie doctrine but also a perfect folower of the same direct sanctifie and gouerne my life be thou alwaies present and readie both to heare and to helpe me Saue and defend me from all shame and reproch be thou my shield buckler against all temptations clense my mind and thought from all vncleannesse keepe and preserue me from all danger both of bodie
soone after doth my corrupt and infected nature offend and displease thy diuine Maiestie so that I am prone and readie to run headlong into all kind of wickednesse and sin such is my strength such is my force or rather weakenesse in perfourming those things which thou requirest at my hands So that good Lord I am readie vtterlie to despaire and forsake thee vnlesse thou of thy great mercie and pitie send thine aide from aboue and powre into me thy most healthfull grace that I may make hast to flee vnto thee with most bitter teares a sorrowfull hart and bowing knees lamenting my sinfull life and greeuous offences committed against thee trusting most assuredlie and faithfullie in the merits of my Sauiour Iesus Christ that by his most bitter death bloud-shedding which is of far greater force vertue and effect in preseruing me than all my sinnes and offences are in condemning and casting me awaie for whose sake I most assuredlie beleeue all my sinnes and offences are cleerelie forgiuen and shall neuer be laid to my charge but that I shall enter with thee in the last daie into thine euerlasting kingdome there to be with thee for euermore to whome be all honour praise and glorie for euer and euer Amen A praier to God the father ALmightie God the father of our Lord Iesus Christ whome no desert merit or worthinesse of ours but thine owne great clemencie mercie and pitie caused to send downe thine onlie begotten sonne into this world to beare the burden of our sinnes with the which we most miserable sinners were ouerladen and that he should suffer most cruell torments yea and also most bitter and shamefull death and sanctifie the reprochfull name of the crosse with the renting of his blessed bodie and shedding his most pretious bloud thereon thereby to make attonement betweene thee and vs thereby to paie the raunsome for our soules thereby to consummate and finish the perfection of our redemption and saluation Which thing it was thy good will that he should doo not onelie to asswage thy wrath indignation but also to bring vs againe into thy grace and fauour and that we being deliuered out of the bondage of sinne and hell might serue thee in righteousnesse and holinesse all the daies of our life and by the free gift and benefite of his death and passion be made partakers of his resurrection and of thine endlesse and vnspeakable glorie Wherefore my God my maker my Lord my King seeing thou hast so aboundantlie bestowed thy heauenlie gifts vpon me and all mankind and hast so plentifullie powred out thy grace and fauour on vs that for our sakes thou wouldest not spare thine owne sonne how shall we escape thine indignation which for this care and kindnesse of thine are most carelesse and vnkind And among all other which waie shall I poore creature turne me How shall I who haue beene most vnthankefull for thy benefits and most vnmindfull of them be so bold as to lift vp my hart or hands vnto the heauens and to call vpon thee Thou of thy singular goodnesse didst so prouide that the wickednesse of old Adam should be purged and washed awaie with the bloud of Iesus Christ but I haue wilfullie fallen into sinne againe Thou madest me the child of light but I haue made my selfe an inheritour of darkenesse Thou madest me thine by creation I haue made my selfe the child of perdition What shall I now therefore do Shall I doubt of anie further mercie and forgiuenesse No no sweete Lord so great is thy mercie which surmounteth all thy workes so large are thy promises so sure is the performance of them to all such as take hold thereof so deere in thy sight are the merits of thy sonne Iesus so acceptable vnto thee is the hartie repentance of a sinner that with the remembrance thereof I am prouoked to crie vnto thee saieng Father I haue sinned against heauen and against thee I am no more worthie to be called thy child Neuerthelesse behold thou me not as I am a greeuous offender but as thy creature Haue now no respect to mine offences but behold my repentance thinke not vpon my wickednesse but vpon the wounds of my Sauiour Iesus Looke not vpon my false hart which hath wauered from thy lawes but behold the bleeding hart of thy sonne Iesus Christ which was pierced to release me and set me free My sinnes I cast vpon thy backe beseeching thee that his merits may beare them and thy mercie pardon them Heare me O Lord my God heare me for I knowe the more earnestlie that I seeke for and desire thine aide the readier thou art to stretch foorth thine hand to helpe me Heare me therefore O Lord bow downe and incline thine eare vnto my praier inspire me so with thy holie spirit that I may loue thee aboue all things and that I neuer faile to put my hope and trust of saluation in him whome thou wouldest to be my redeemer and sauiour Make me by the forsaking of all wickednesse so to rise from falling into sinne that I may obtaine the true seruing of thee with innocencie and purenesse of life Graunt this O Lord for Iesus Christs sake to whome with thee and the holie Ghost be all honour and glorie Amen A praier vnto God the sonne O Most sweet sauiour O most mercifull redeemer O bountifull Iesu the sonne of God who although thou art high yet thou art most humble although thou art omnipotent thou art also most meeke and as thou art most mightie so art thou most mercifull To thee O Christ the guide of all felicitie the father of heauen hath giuen all power both in heauen and in earth Thou art the true pastor of our soules thou art our Messias Thou castest off none that sue vnto thee but as thou hast taken awaie the hand-writing that was against vs and hast fastened it to thy crosse so art thou readie to impart the merits of thy passion vnto all such as with true repentance of their sins call vpon thee faithfullie Wherefore my sweet Iesus I most faithfullie and vnfeinedlie acknowledge the benefits that thou hast bestowed vpon me and stedfastlie beleeue that thou being an immaculate lambe in whose mouth was neuer found guile didst suffer most cruell torments at the hands of sinners for the loue of vs most wretched sinners For the which cause I most hartilie beseech thee and most humblie praie thee to accept me into the number of them whom thou wilt make coinheritours of thy bitter paines And although I of my selfe be most vnworthie thereof yet thy merits can make me woorthie to them do I flie crauing that I may be so armed and defended by them that I may subdue the world the flesh and the diuell euen as thou hast gloriouslie conquered sinne death and hell Thou seest O my sauiour how I am dailie and hourlie beset with these three enimies and so hardlie beseeged of them that without thy helpe I can by
thy poore afflicted seruant Oh how long shall I seeke comfort in my soule and be so vexed in my hart Yea how long shall mine enimies triumph ouer me Consider and heare me O Lord my God lighten mine eies that I sleepe not in death least mine enimies saie I haue preuailed against him For if I be cast downe then they that trouble me will reioice at it But my trust is in thy mercie O Lord and my hart is ioifull in thy saluation For after a storme thou makest the weather faire and still after weeping and heauinesse thou giuest great ioie Thy name O most mightie God be praised for euer and euer Amen Another praier O Lord consider my meditation and complaining Oh harken thou vnto my praiers that go not out of fained lips Let my sentence come foorth from thy presence and let thine eies looke vpon the thing that is equall O hold thou vp my goings in thy waies that my footsteps slip not I haue called vpon thee O God for thou shalt heare me incline thine eare to me and hearken vnto my words Shew thy maruellous louing kindnesse thou that art the Sauiour of all them that put their trust in thee Keepe me as the apple of an eie hide me vnder the shadowe of thy wings from the vngodlie that trouble me Mine enimies compasse me round about to take away my soule Up Lord let not man haue the vpper hand let the heathen be iudged in thy sight that they may knowe themselues to be but men Yet of thy mercie O Lord forgiue all mine enimies and turne the harts of such as hate me Who can tell how oft he offendeth Oh clense thou me from all my secret offences Keepe thy seruant also from presumptuous sinnes least they get the dominion ouer me so shall I be vndefiled and innocent from the great offence Let my mourning teares and the sorowfull sighing of my hart come before thy presence and be alwaies accepted in thy sight O Lord my strength and my redeemer let it be thy good pleasure to rid and deliuer me out of all my troubles I most humblie beseech thee and shew some token of thy fauor to me poore wretched sinner which am as a banished woman Looke vpon me O Lord I beseech thee as thou didst looke vpon Susanna and Sarai the daughter of Raguel Those holie women trusted in thee and thou didst deliuer them they hoped in thee and were not forsaken I knowe Lord thy strength is not weakened neither is thy power abated so that if it be thy good pleasure O Lord thou wilt helpe and make thy power to be knowne In the meane time O mercifull and most gratious Lord God giue me grace thankfullie and patientlie to take all whatsoeuer it shall be thy good will and pleasure to laie vpon me O Lord grant me those things which I hartilie haue praied for euer for Iesus Christs sake my Lord and my redeemer To whom with thee and the holie Ghost be all honour glorie and praise Amen When God hath deliuered thee out of thy troubles sing those Psalmes the 9 30 33 34 116 145 146. And euer be giuing thanks to God the almightie Lord and King saieng as followeth A thankesgiuing after trouble THe Lord is my strong rocke and my defence my Sauiour my God and my might in whom I will trust the horne also of my saluation and my refuge Yea the Lord is my shepheard therfore can I lacke nothing He hath comforted my soule and brought it out of trouble euen for his mercies sake Though I walke through the vale of the shadowe of death I will feare none euill for thou art with me thy rod and thy staffe comforteth me For in thee O Lord haue I put my trust and I feare not what flesh and bloud can doo vnto me I haue waited long and with weeping teares haue I taried the Lords leasure and now he hath of his great goodnesse deliuered me out of all my trouble Most mightie God of thine accustomed mercie preserue me from all sinne and wickednesse O Lord I feele mine owne infirmitie and weakenesse O most mercifull Lord keepe me in as it were with a bit or bridle that in this my ioifulnesse I doo not forget my dutie to thee and my neighbours For when we haue althings at our owne pleasure and nothing to trouble vs then is our dailie enimie readie to puffe vs vp with pride and vnthankfulnesse yea and with forgetfulnesse of thy lawes Wherefore most mightie Lord looke downe from thy holie heauens euen with thy fatherlie eies of pitie and strengthen my trembling soule with thy holie spirit Guide me that I swarue not frō thy truth taught in holie Scripture but that all my thoughts words and deeds may redound to the glorie honour and woorthie praise of thy most holie name This with teares I most humblie beseech thee to grant euen for Iesus Christs sake in whose name I come to thee and in none other saieng O our Father c. Another thankesgiuing after trouble O Lord I most humblie render lauds thanks and praises vnto thee For thou hast set me vp and not made my foes to triumph ouer me O Lord my God I cried vnto thee and thou hast heard me yea thou broughtest my soule out of trouble and girded me with ioie and gladnes Sing praises vnto the Lord with me Oye Saints of his let vs all giue thanks vnto him for a remembrance of his holinesse For his wrath indureth but the twinkling of an eie and in his pleasure is life euerlasting Heauinesse may endure for a night but ioie commeth in the morning Thou didst turne thy face from me O Lord and lo I was sore troubled then cried I vnto thee O Lord and praied vnto my God right humblie saieng Heare O Lord and haue mercie on me Lord be thou my helpe in all my trouble bow downe thine eare to me and make haste to deliuer me for thou art my strong rocke and deliuerer Into thy hands Lord I commit my spirit for thou hast redeemed me O Lord thou God most high Oh what reward should I giue vnto the Lord for all the maruellous benefits that he hath done vnto mee which I can not woorthilie expresse For in my trouble I called vpon the Lord and he heard me at large and in my temptation with his holie spirit he mightilie preserued me Therefore I knowe that the Lord is on my side and I will not feare what man can doo vnto me For it is better to trust in the Lord than to put anie confidence in Princes for with the Lord there is mercie and with him there is plentious redemption The earth O Lord is full of thy mercie therefore will I talke of thy praise all the daie long and sing Psalmes of thankesgiuing vnto thee It is good for me that I haue beene in trouble else should I not haue learned thy statutes If my delight had not beene in thy lawes I should
and to obey thy good will to the end that by this means all our works may be to the praise of thy name and to the edifieng of our neighbours And as it hath pleased thee to cause thy Sunne to shine vpon the earth to lighten vs corporallie vouchsafe also by the cleerenesse of thy spirit to illuminate our vnderstandings and our hearts to direct vs vnto the streight waie of righteousnesse Euen so to what thing soeuer we may applie our selues let our chiefe end purpose be alwaies to walke in thy feare to serue and honour thee looking for all our wealth and prosperitie from out of thy holie blessing to the end we enterprise nothing which shall not be agreeable vnto thee Moreouer let vs so trauell for our bodie and for the life present that we alwaie haue a further regard namelie to the life of heauen which thou hast promised vnto thy children Neuerthelesse let it please thee to be our protector both touching the bodie and touching the soule strengthening vs against all temptations of the diuell and deliuering vs from all the dangers that may come vnto vs. And because there is nothing well begun which doth not continue vouchsafe to receiue vs into thy holie gouernance not onlie for this present daie but for our whole life continuing and increasing dailie thy grace in vs till thou hast brought vs vnto the full coniunction of thy sonne Iesus Christ our Lord who is the true Sun-light of our soules shining daie and night without end perpetuallie And to the intent that we may obteine these graces of thee O vouchsafe to forget all our faults past pardoning vs them through thine infinite mercie as thou hast promised vnto all them that seeke thee with a good heart Heare vs O father of mercie for thy sonne our Lord Iesus Christ his sake So be it Out of the 143 Psalme 8 Let vs heare thy louing kindnesse in the morning for in thee is our trust O shew vs the waie that we should walke in for we haue lift vp our hart vnto thee 9 Deliuer vs O Lord from our enimies for we haue cried vnto thee 10 Teach vs to doo thy will for thou art our God A praier to saie before one begin his worke THE Lord God and Father vouchsafe to assist vs through his holie spirit and by him to gouerne and guide vs in such sort as all that we shall doo saie or thinke may be to his glorie in the name of his sonne Iesus Christ our Lord So be it Another praier to the same purpose O Our God Father and Sauiour seeing it hath pleased thee to command vs to trauell for the sustentation of our necessitie vouchsafe through thy grace so to blesse our labour that thy blessing may extend vnto vs without the which also we are not able to continue And let such fauour of thine serue vs for a testimonie of thy bountifulnesse and assistance and that we by the same may knowe the fatherlie care which thou hast for vs. Moreouer let it please thee O Lord to assist vs by thy holie spirit to the end that we may be faithfullie exercised in our estate and vocation without anie guile or deceit but that we rather regard to followe thine ordinance than to satisfie our owne desire of gaine And if it please thee to prosper our labor giue vs also a willing mind to succour those that are in necessitie according to the abilitie which thou hast granted vs so yet that we mind not to lift vp our selues aboue those which haue not receiued of thee such liberalitie And when thou wilt handle vs with greater pouertie and necessitie than our flesh shall desire let it please thee O Lord to shew vs this grace euen to knowe that thou through thy bountifulnes wilt continuallie nourish vs least we be tempted with mistrust but that we patientlie abide vntill thou replenish vs not onelie with thy corporall gifts but also with thy spirituall graces that we may still haue more ample matter and occasion to thanke thee sincerelie to staie our selues vpon thine onlie goodnesse Heare vs O Father of all mercie through thy sonne Iesus Christ our Lord So be it A praier to saie afore one begin to studie his lesson Out of the 119 Psalme verses 9 18 34. WHerewithall shall a yoong man redresse his waie Euen in taking heede therevnto according to thy word Open thou mine eies that I may see the maruellous works of thy lawe O giue me vnderstanding and I shall keepe thy lawe yea I shall keepe it with my whole hart O Lord which art the fountaine of all wisdome and knowledge seeing it hath pleased thee to giue mee the meanes to be instructed in the age of mine infancie to make mee knowe how to gouerne the whole course of my life holilie and honestlie vouchsafe also to illuminate mine vnderstanding which of it selfe is blind that it may comprehend the learning which shall be taught me O vouchsafe to confirme my memorie for to keepe it well O let it be thy pleasure to dispose my hart to receiue it willinglie and with such a desire as is conuenient that through mine ingratitude the occasion that thou offerest me be not lost For to doo this vouchsafe to powre vpon me thy holie spirit the spirit I saie of all vnderstanding veritie iudgment prudence and learning which may make me able to profit well to the end that the trauell which shall be taken to teach me be not lost And to what studie soeuer I applie my selfe make me to reduce it vnto the true end namelie to knowe thee in our Lord Iesus Christ to haue full affiance of saluation and life in thy grace and to serue thee vprightlie purelie according to thy good pleasure so as all that I shall learne may be as an instrument to aid me vnto the same And seeing thou promisest to giue wisdome vnto babes and to the humble and to confound the proud in the vanitie of their owne minds likewise to shew thy selfe vnto those that are of a right hart and contrarilie to blind the wicked peruerse vouchsafe to bring me vnto true humilitie whereby I may yeeld my selfe apt to learne and obedient first vnto thee secondlie to my superiours whom thou hast ordeined to rule and to teach me Furthermore vouchsafe to dispose my hart to seeke thee without feinednesse renouncing all carnall and euil affections and that in such sort I may prepare my selfe now to serue thee once in that estate vocation to the which it shall please thee to ordeine me when I shall come to age Heare me O Father of mercie through our Lord Iesus Christ So be it Psalme 25. verse 13. THe Lord sheweth his secrets vnto them that feare him and maketh them to knowe his couenant A praier or grace to saie afore meate ALl things wait vpon thee O Lord and thou giuest them meate in due season when thou giuest it them they gather it and
of the Lord as well as Abraham and his seed by circumcision M Seeing that by baptisme we are borne clothed washed and regenerated in the house of God which is the Church with what meat and with what drinke are we nourished and fed C Euen with himselfe who hath begotten vs. For as he is our washing and clothing so is he vnto vs meate and drinke M Is this bicause he is the word of God which is the true food of our soules C Yea and we must go further seeing that his word became flesh whereof it commeth that we are nourished with his flesh with his bloud into life eternall M And how is it that his bodie was made meate or heauenlie bread and his bloud drinke vnto vs C By his death and passion as he declareth in his holie Supper M Where shall we find the institution of the holie Supper C In three Euangelists and verie largelie declared in the first to the Corinthians the xi Chapter M Reade the place C I receiued of the Lord that which I haue giuen vnto you namelie that the Lord Iesus in the same night that he was be traied tooke bread and when he had giuen thanks hee brake it and said Take eate this is my bodie which is broken for you doo this in remembrance of me Likewise after supper he tooke the cup saieng This cup is the new testament in my bloud doo this as often as you shall drinke it in the remembrance of me For as often as you shall eat of this bread and drink of this cup ye shall declare the Lords death vntill he come Wherefore whosoeuer shall eate of this bread or drinke of this cup vnwoorthilie shall be guiltie of the bodie and bloud of the Lord. But let a man examine himselfe and so let him eat of this bread and drinke of this cup. For whosoeuer eateth and drinketh vnwoorthilie eateth and drinketh his owne damnation making no difference of the Lords bodie or not discerning the bodie of the Lord. M Did not the Lord then minister vnto all equallie one bread and one wine in his Supper C Yea as indifferentlie as he died for all and commanded to take eate and drinke M What signifieth then the bread of the Supper C The pretious bodie of Iesus which he gaue vnto the death of the Crosse for vs. M And what signifieth the wine C His pretious bloud which he shed vpon the Crosse for vs. M This bread and wine being called the bodie and bloud of the Lord doo they change their substance and nature C No but as we corporallie eate the bread drinke the wine so spirituallie we eate the bodie and drinke the bloud of the Lord. M And how may we ascend vp to heauen where he is to eate his flesh and to drinke his bloud C By loue and liuelie faith seeing that alreadie we haue there our conuersation and that the words of the Lord are spirit and life M And he being in heauen how is it that he communicateth vnto vs his bodie and his bloud we being heere belowe vpon the earth C By the vertue of his holie spirit by whome he ioineth vs vnto himselfe and maketh vs partakers of himselfe in true holinesse of soule and bodie M The Infidels may they eate the bodie and drinke the bloud of the Lord C Naie for through their infidelitie they receiue it to their condemnation as did Iudas M How must we prepare our selues before we come to this holie Table C Euerie one must proue himselfe whether he come with true faith and repentance and with Christian charitie as he witnesseth M The true preparation then and worthinesse consisteth not in this that our faith charitie be so great as it ought to be C No for though we ought continuallie to tend therevnto yet shall we neuer be able to come at it M How is it then that our faith so little and vnperfect saueth vs and maketh vs worthie to receiue that which is offered vnto vs by the Gospell and the Sacraments C In that that it soundeth vs and maketh vs wholie to rest in the righteousnesse dignitie and perfection of Iesus vnto whome onlie the father hath regard M Must all they be receiued that present themselues to the Supper C Yea all those whom we knowe to be disciples and members of Iesus willing to liue and die in this faith and doctrine thereof A collection of the principall points which they ought to knowe that will communicate at the holie Supper of the Lord Iesus Christ THere is one onlie God on whome all things depend 1 The first point to honor God well consisteth in this that we haue all our confidence in him and that we perceiue the meanes to knowe him namelie in Iesus Christ Heerevnto serueth the confession of faith before recited The said confession conteineth foure parts The first is of God the father who is the beginning and principall cause of all things The second of his sonne Iesus Christ who is the eternall wisdome of God And in this part is comprehended the whole historie of our redemption to know that by Iesus Christ alone we obteine saluation and the meanes whereby he hath purchased it for vs The third of the holie spirit who is the vertue and power of God which he powreth vpon his creatures and neuerthelesse is resident still in himselfe The fourth of the Church and of the graces of God towards the same 2 The second point to honour God aright consisteth in this that we obey his will The rule to obey him is giuen vs in the ten commandements of the lawe The foure first commandements conteine the dutie that we owe vnto God The sixe following conteine the dutie that we owe vnto our neighbours 3 The third point to honor God aright consisteth in this that in all our necessities we call vpon him alone The instruction to call rightlie vpon God is giuen vs in the praier of our Lord Iesus Christ The three first petitions of the same praier concerne the glorie of God The other three concerne our owne welfare profit 4 The fourth point to honour God aright lieth in this that we looke for all good things at his hand as it is he onlie from whom all good things proceede The promises of this free goodnesse that God vseth towards his owne are conteined in the Gospell The same promises are comprehended by faith Faith is an assured knowledge of the good will of God towards vs grounded vpon the free promises which is giuen vnto vs in Iesus Christ and confirmed in our hearts by his holie spirit Because of the weakenesse of our faith our Lord hath giuen vs the Sacraments A Sacrament is an outward testimonie which by a visible signe representeth vnto vs the promises of God spirituallie accomplished in vs. Baptisme is vnto vs as an entrance into the Church of God and representeth vnto vs the remission of our sinnes and our renouation of life The water as the
THEODORE BEZA I Doo loue thee O LORD my strength I doo loue thee euen from the bottome of my hart The Lord is my rocke and my fortresse my deliuerer my God my mount my refuge my sheeld the horne wherwith I driue awaie the enimie and my high tower of defence I haue praised the Lord and called vpon him and he hath deliuered me from all mine enimies The bands of death had compassed me round about bound me most wicked men like most raging flouds made me afraid enuironing me round about I did lie as it were wrapped in my winding sheete euen snarled with the snares of death I called vpon the Lord in these extremities I called vpon my God I saie and he heard my voice out of his high palace and receiued into his eares the crie that I made vnto him in the prison Then began the earth to quake and tremble the verie foundations of the mountaines to shake and shudder And he breathed out smoke from his nostrels spitting foorth fire out of his mouth yea casting foorth euen coales of fire He bowed the heauens and came downe the darkenesse being spred all abrode vnder his feete He did ride vpon the wings of the Angels and was caried with the wings of the wind Blacke darknesse enuironed his tabernacle round about and he was caried with most darke and thicke clouds Untill his glistering brightnesse did breake those clouds and the flames of fire did flash on euerie side At the length he thundered from heauen and filled all places with his mightie sounding voice and with haile-stones and lightenings He shot foorth his fierie darts and increasing his lightenings he terrified mine enimies and destroied them Then the deepe bottoms of the waters appeared and the foundations of the world were discouered at thy rebuke O Lord and at the blustering wind of thy wrath So then hath he stretching his right hand from the heauen taken me and drawne me out of the bottome of the deepe waters From the mightie enimie I saie and from the other enimies by whose power I was oppressed For they verelie had almost cast me downe and destroied me at the sudden but he was my staffe that staied mee And he hath drawne me out of these streights and placed me in an open and large place bicause it so pleased him without my deseruing to fauour me For he had regard indeed of me that so was oppressed of these men without cause granted these things to me being guiltlesse For I haue followed the waie that the Lord hath appointed me howsoeuer these men vexed me neither could I be drawne by anie of their iniuries that I should fall from my God as the wicked vse For I had all his lawes before mine eies neither did I put his statutes foorth of my sight But I behaued my selfe without hypocrisie with him neither did I followe mine affections which else would easilie haue caried me foorth of the waie Therefore had the Lord regard of me that was oppressed of them without anie cause and fauoured mee the innocent partie For thou O Lord wilt shew thy selfe good and vpright to them that deale vprightlie And as thou shewest thy selfe sincere with them that deale sincerelie so the craftie men shall perceiue thee to be more cunning For although manie times thy seruants be sore vexed yet dooest thou preserue them and dooest cast downe those that behaue themselues so proudlie Hence haue I my light whereby thou causest me to shine and driuest awaie my darknesse Thou hast made me to ouercome these dangers easilie and to leape ouer the wals and lets that were in my waie For the waie whereby God leadeth vs is plaine the word of God is most pure the Lord doth defend all that trust in him as with a shield For who is God but the Lord And who is mightie but our God onelie He hath girded me with power and hath made my waie safe He hath made me as swift as the Hinds and hath placed me in most high and safe places He hath taught mine hands to fight and he hath giuen me so great strength that I am able to breake a bowe of brasse with these mine armes Thou hast preserued me with the protection of thy shield thou hast staied me with thy right hand when I was readie to fall through thy great mercie Thou hast caused me to go safelie without danger and thou hast staied my sliding steps Therefore haue I pursued mine enimies and taken them and I haue not turned back till I haue destroied them I haue so beaten them downe and troden them vnder foote that they were not able to raise themselues againe For thou verelie hast giuen me such strength that they which haue risen against me haue fallen hedlong at my feete Thou hast giuen me power to strike off their heads and that I might destroie them that pursued me Yet Lord I grant they cried vnto thee but thou hast not deliuered them neither wouldest heare their crie Therefore did I beate them small like the dust that the wind scattereth abroad and I did beate them like the mire which is tempered vnder the foote of them that walke the streets Yea also thou hast deliuered me from domesticall and inward troubles and thou hast giuen me dominion ouer the nations that I neuer knewe before Unknowne people I saie obey my commandements and strangers be compelled for feare to submit themselues vnto me The hearts of the strangers haue failed so that they fall downe for feare in their strongest forts Let the Lord liue and let him that is my defence be knowledged and worshipped of all as he worthilie deserueth Let God my deliuerer bee praised euerie-where Euen God I saie who is mine aduenger who hath subdued so manie people vnder me Thou hast saued me from mine enimies thou hast deliuered me from them that rose vp against me especiallie from that cruell curssing man Therefore will I praise thee euen amongst the prophane nations and I will sing vnto thy Maiestie For verelie thou hast maruellouslie preserued thy Queene not onlie ELIZABETH hir selfe whom thou hast annointed Queene but also thou hast shewed singular fauour to hir posteritie that shall remaine for euer Amen * Glorie therefore be vnto thee ô FATHER the Sonne and the holie Ghost as it was from all beginnings is at this present and euer shall be through all ages and worlds world without end Amen AMEN The 118. Psalme made by DAVID when he obteined his kingdome after the death of Saule OH acknowledge declare yee openlie that the Lord is good for his bountious goodnesse is for euer Let Israel now confesse this thing for his bountious goodnes and mercie endureth for euer Let the stocke of Aaron now confesse that his louing kindnesse is perpetuall Let all the sincere woorshippers of the Lord now confesse this that his louing kindnesse is perpetuall I doubtlesse being a notable example of his vnspeakable bountie haue not ceased as yee knowe
for into thy hands I commit me Amen E ENter thy iudgements in the tables of my hart destroie mine affections with thy loue send thy wisdome from the holie heauens and from the seate of thy Maiestie that she may be with me and labour with me that I may knowe what thing is acceptable before thee and may iudge the people righteouslie and discerne betweene good and euill G GRatious Lord thou that art the most high God aboue all the earth long-suffering and of much mercie sorowing the sinnes of man and of thy great goodnesse hast promised to the penitent remission of sinnes Lord I haue sinned mine iniquitie is multiplied aboue the sands of the sea and there is no hope of life in me because I haue stirred thee to anger in multiplieng offences before thee And now O Lord trusting in thy mercie I bow the knees of my hart beseeching thee of thy goodnesse destroie me not togither with mine iniquitie For the dead whose soules are out of their bodies can neither praise nor thanke thee but the sorowfull hart and the thirstie soule ascribe praise vnto thee O Lord I powre my praiers before thee and require mercie in thy sight saue me which am vnwoorthie and reserue not eternall punishment for mee For thine owne sake I aske it and will praise thee all the daies of my life Amen I ILluminate my hart O Lord with the light of thy word leade me Lord in thy waie and I shall enter into thy truth Print thy feare in my hart that I may reioice in thee Let thy word be a lanterne vnto my feet and a lampe of light vnto my paths so shall I not erre from the right waie but walke like a pure and wise virgin with an vpright hart chaste mind and cleane conscience and single eie before thee this daie and euermore Amen N NEuer will I cease to call vpon thee most mightie God of hosts which sittest vpon the Cherubins and hast dominion ouer all the kingdoms of the earth Thou which madest the heauens all things comprehended in them bow downe thine eare and heare open thine eies and behold saue mee from the hand of mine aduersaries suffer no euill to happen vnto me that all the people may knowe that thou alone art my God Amen A ASsist mee O Lord my God with thy heauenlie grace and renew in mee a right spirit that I may receiue strength ablenesse to doo thy righteous will and to stand against all the assaults of wilie Satan that they may haue no place in mee but that the old man which I beare about in my bodie may be crucified and dailie die in me that the desire of sinne errour and of worldlie vanities may vtterlie be destroied that I may euermore be renewed in the spirit of my mind that the life of my Sauiour Christ may alwaies appeare in me to whome with the Father and the holie Ghost be all honour triumph and glorie for euer and euer Amen The versicle EUen now and euer vouchsafe O LORD for thy deere sonnes sake to heare my humble petitions The answere REceiue my praiers I saie O GOD and in thy truth and mercie pardon mine offences and grant mee thy grace The Collect. O Emanuel my Lord and my GOD Iesus Christ sonne of the pure virgin Marie thou art not onelie the sweete spouse of my soule but with God the Father a most meeke Mediatour full of mercie and truth Wash awaie my sinnes with the most pretious bloud of thy holie passion make me rich in thy mercie and my faith so strong in thee that assisted with thy grace and holie spirit to all duties and works in this life towards thee I may enioie afterwards the glorie of thy blessed kingdome with thy holie Saints and pure Uirgins in euerlasting honour and triumph Amen The Praier O Roote of Iesse my Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ which hast redeemed all mankind from sinne death and hell thou which hast said I am the waie truth and life The waie in doctrine commandements and examples truth in promises life in reward I praie thee by thine ineffable loue wherewith thou hast vouchsafed wholie to bestowe thy selfe for our securitie that thou wilt not suffer me euer to straie from thee bicause thou art the waie nor at anie time to distrust thy promses which art the truth and performest whatsoeuer thou promisest neither let me rest in anie other thing bicause thou art eternall life without the which there is nothing that ought to be desired neither in heauen nor in earth By thee we learne the sure and expedient passage vnto true helth that we wander no longer in the Laberinth of this world Thou hast exactlie taught what to beleeue and what to doo what to hope for and in whom we ought to rest By thee wee learne how wee were of that first Adam vnfortunatelie borne by thee we are assured there is no hope of health but through faith in thee that thou art the onlie brightnesse which giuest light to all men trauelling the darke desarts of this world where is nothing but a profound dimnesse wherby we neither see our calamities nor frō whence we ought to seeke remedie of our euill Thou vouchsafedst to descend into the earth disdainedst not to take our nature vpon thee that by thy doctrine thou mightest shake off the dimnesse of our ignorance by thy commandements mightest direct our feete in the waie of truth peace By the examples of thy life thou hast shewed vs the waie to immortalitie and by thy steps hast restored to vs a plaine easie profitable waie out of an vneeuen and rough waie So thou art made vnto vs a waie which knoweth no error in the which least we should be wearie thou hast vouchsafed to vphold vs in thy benignitie with great sure promises For who can be wearie accounting himselfe redie through thy steps to enter thy heauenlie heritage Therefore whilest we be in this iournie thou wouldest be a sure hope vnto vs to be in steed of a staffe vnto vs wherewith we are sustained Neither was thy goodnes content with this but knowing the weaknesse of our flesh in the meane while with the comfort of thy spirit dooest so refresh our strength whereby we run cheerefullie And as thou being made vnto vs the waie dooest driue awaie all errour so being truth dooest thou take awaie all distrust Finallie being made life vnto vs dooest reuiue the dead in sinne to liue by thy spirit releeuing all things vntill in the resurrection all mortalitie vtterlie abolished we may alwaies liue with thee and in thee when Christ shall be to vs all in all For eternall life is to knowe the Father the Sonne and the holie Ghost to be one true God where now thorough faith we behold onlie in a glasse and riddle And then seeing more felowlie the glorie of the Lord wee shall be transformed into the same image Therefore I beseech thee most mercifull Sauiour that
than to giue hartie and continuall thanks by all possible meanes vnto God who besides that he is God and therefore hath bound all men vnto himselfe by good right hath bestowed vpon vs so manie peculiar benefits And againe what can be more ioifull and more to be desired than such a testimonie of his fatherlie loue who hath deliuered vs from so manie not onlie dangers but deaths also CAP. IIII. GO to also O all ye Kings Princes Gouernours and Iudges of the earth hold vp your hands humblie vnto God the eternall KING acknowledge his power which sitteth vpon the most high heauens from all eternitie as it were vpon a chariot and maketh a terrible and most mightie sound from the clouds O yee mightie Monarchs and Potentates of the world now worship and praise ye the LORD our GOD together with me doo him all possible reuerence and reioice vnto him with feare and trembling as I doo O ye Kings and all ye of power giue place vnto the Lord giue vnto the Lord I saie the honour of all glorie and power giue vnto the Lord the maiestie and glorie due vnto his name fall downe before his footestoole and worship him in his most holie temple for he is holie and seeke his glorie carefullie as I doo For this chieflie becommeth all Princes to doo whom God of his vnspeakable fauour hath consecrated vnto himselfe and brought them into the most high state of dignitie aboue others but speciallie it becommeth me to reioice and to set foorth thy praises O God after a most exquisite maner in whom thy most excellent Maiestie doth so gloriouslie shine and who haue receiued so manie rare and singular benefits of thee from my conception to this houre Go to then O my deere soule and mine inward bowels giue thanks vnto God with all your power praise the Lord O my soule and declare thy selfe that thou art mindfull of all his benefits For what honour is not the Lord woorthie of which of his vnspeakable mercie and compassion hath forgiuen thee all thy sinnes healed the deadlie wounds thereof cured thy diseases borne thine infirmities redeemed thy life from death preserued thee from miserie renewed thy youth like the Egle that liueth most long and adorned thee so richlie with all his benefits as testimonies of his singular goodnes and fatherlie mercie towards thee Go to therefore with me you mightie spirits being his apparitours and the diligent executioners of his will so soone as ye heare him speake celebrate yee the praises of the Lord. O yee mightie armies of his most obedient souldiours praise the Lord I saie O ye euen the verie Angels worship him as your Lord and King Praise ye the Lord O all his works in what place soeuer of his dominion and whatsoeuer hath breath let it sound and set foorth his glorie finallie thou my deere soule set thou foorth the praise of God CAP. V. AND I O my God my King euen I thy handmaid and annointed in thankefull remembrance and worthie memoriall of thy woonderfull works and benefits wrought and shewed vnto me continuallie doo againe as it is meete render vnto thee this acceptable sacrifice of praise and thankesgiuing I paie the vowes vnto thee which I haue promised both secretlie among the faithfull and openlie before the whole assemblie of thy people and that in the courts of thy house O Lord and in the midest of the Citie Ierusalem wherein by thy power and benefit I thus flourish I will praise thee with my whole hart and magnifie thy name for euer because I haue experience of thine infinite goodnesse in my selfe and am deliuered from so manifold dangers of death and destruction Neither will I be ashamed to sing foorth thy praises also in songs before the assemblie of the mightie and before the verie Angels that stand about thine arke I will together with all Angels Spirits soules and with all Kings Queenes virgins and creatures both in heauen and earth incessantlie magnifie thee in the palace consecrated to thy Maiestie and will sing of thy mercie and truth because thou hast gotten vnto thee now at the length most great honour for that thou hast so maruellouslie aboue expectation surelie performed vnto me that which thou didst promise in thy word I with the residue of the people of my dominion as a mother with hir daughters and the virgin with virgins being for this cause replenished with incredible ioie and comforted with thy iudgments O Lord will reioice in thee which seeing nothing in me that should so moue thee hast neuerthelesse embraced me with so great fauour and mightilie also defended me and with all the iust I will magnifie the holie remembrance of thee so great a King continuallie which sitting vpon thy most holie throne rulest the whole earth and exaltest thy selfe far aboue all that is aloft anie where For to this end chieflie thou O Lord hast consecrated and set me ouer them that I should diligentlie exercise the rites of thy diuine worship among them Therefore I will delight my selfe in setting foorth thy praises more and more and I will testifie my selfe in my whole life to be desirous of thy honour and glorie to whome all honour and glorie of right belongeth O my God my King I will highlie extoll thee and celebrate thy name for euer and euer I will consecrate all the daies of my life to set foorth thy glorie and will amplifie thy name with songs that neuer shall haue end For thou art great O Lord and no praise is sufficient for thee neither can anie man attaine to thy greatnesse For thy woonderfull works endure not for one generation and age alone but as one age succeedeth another so likewise must some men commit the memoriall of them vnto others vnlesse they will be negligent in dooing their dutie Wherefore trulie be it far from me thy handmaid that anie thing should be of greater authoritie with me than that I should carefullie thinke that the brightnesse of thy Maiestie which shineth vnto vs in the verie dailie vse of things and that thy deeds to me and my people-ward are greater than can be comprehended by the admiration or capacitie of all mortall men and women And doubtlesse Lord though verie manie be most blockish and woonderfull thankelesse yet can there neuer be wanting some which shall euen against their willes confesse at the least thy terrible power euen ouer all princes and people of the world But admit that others be silent and vnthankefull yet I will neuer cease to declare thy greatnesse and the nations most far off shall heare me publishing thy praises and singing vnto thee for deliuering and sauing me by thy power whome thou hast chosen and loued But God forbid that I alone should labour to doo this my dutie For verelie there will be alwaies some assemblie which will by all meanes testifie the remembrance of thy peculiar goodnesse and thy most vndoubted promises Namelie that thou art most mercifull and
Lord with the hyssope of true repentance and sorowfull contrition that being clensed in the most cleere fountaine of thy grace I may be whiter than snowe and also bee able euer hereafter to serue thee in holinesse and purenesse of liuing through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Wash your hands yee sinners and cleanse your harts ye wauering minded Isaias 4 verse 8. I will wash my hands in innocencie ô Lord and so will I go to thine altar Psal 26 verse 6. Or else praie thus HAue mercie vpon mee O God and pardon the wicked deeds which my hands haue committed Wash my soule with the holie fountaine or well which I beleeue did flow from thy hart and naked side and sanctifie and purifie not onlie my hands and face from filth but my hart soule and conscience also from all contagion of sinne and iniquitie that I may be pure both in bodie and soule and serue thee in holinesse and puritie all the daies of my life So be it Though I wash my selfe with snowe water and purge my hands most cleane yet shalt thou plunge me in the pit and mine owne cloths shall make mee filthie Iob. 9 verse 30. Meditations THinke now of thy vow and promise made to God at thy baptisme to forsake Sathan to renounce the world and to mortifie the flesh and how oft since thou hast broken it and be hartilie sorie therefore Thinke also vpon the vnspeakable loue and mercie of Christ our Sauiour who hath washed vs from our sins in his owne pretious bloud and purged our conscience from dead works to the end we should serue him in holinesse and innocencie of life And consider that it shall little auaile thée to haue washed thy selfe if thou touch filth againe that is if thou confesse thy faults and after commit them againe and so wich the dog returne to the vomit and with the washed sow to the wallowing in the mire againe ¶ When you be made readie first before all things looke that either by your selfe or with your familie with all humblenesse of mind you kneele downe by your bed-side in your parlour or other sweete cleane and conuenient place and there taking both time and leasure to serue the Lord lift vp your hart hands and eies and praie vnto his diuine Maiestie saieng in manner and forme following A premeditation or first forme of praier to be vsed before praier O Mercifull Lord and louing father without whose aid and motion I am not able to stir one member toward heauenlie seruice the burthen of this slowe and sinfull flesh doth so ouercharge my weak soule according vnto thy fatherlie pitie looke vpon me O God prepare my hart to praier and quicken my dull spirit with thy grace to rise out of this miserable puddle and to come before thy presence in humble repentance crauing thy mercie for my miserable sinnes and wickednesse and being released in the bloud and righteousnesse of Iesus Christ I may ioifullie serue honor and praise thine eternall Maiestie through thy deere sonne my mercifull Lord and redeemer to whom with thee and the holie Ghost be all glorie and thanks for euer Amen Another meditation before praier VNto thee O heauenlie father doo I heere prostrate on my knees lift vp my hart my hands mine eies and praiers beseeching thy Maiestie and saieng Helpe me O my Lord and God in this my good purpose and holie worshipping or seruing of thee and grant vnto me to make a perfect entrance and beginning this present daie that I maie doo all things in the name of the Father of the Sonne and of the holie Ghost For that which I haue hitherto done is nothing at all The Confession and Praier O Father of heauen O sonne of God redeemer of the world O holie Ghost three persons and one God haue mercie vpon me most wretched caitife and miserable sinner I haue offended both heauen and earth more than my tongue can expresse my sins are aboue all mens both in number and greatnesse which I haue committed Whither then may I go And whither should I flee To heauen I may be ashamed to lift vp my face and in earth I find no place of refuge or succour To thee therefore O Lord doo I runne to thee doo I humble my selfe saieng O Lord my God my sinnes be great and innumerable but yet haue mercie vpon me for thy great mercie The great mysterie that God became man was not wrought for little or few offences Thou didst not giue thy sonne O heauenlie father vnto death for small sinnes onlie but for all the greatest sinnes in the world so that the sinner returne vnto thee with his whole hart as I doo heere at this present Wherefore haue mercie on me O God whose propertie is alwaie to haue mercie wherefore haue mercie on me O Lord for thy great mercie I craue nothing O Lord for mine owne merits but for thy name sake that it may be halowed thereby and for thy deere sonne Iesus Christes sake and now therefore Our father of heauen halowed be thy name c. Another Confession and praier OH almightie euerlasting God and most gratious deere louing father I beseech thee for Iesus Christes sake thy most deere and onlie sonne to haue mercie pitie and compassion vpon me most vile wretched and miserable sinner whose innumerable offenses both old new be most horrible heinous and great where through I haue iustlie deserued thy greeuous wrath and euerlasting damnation But now good Lord heere I do appeale to thy great mercie onlie which far surmounteth all thy works as thou hast promised the same in thy holie and infallible word where thou hast said yea and sworne as trulie as thou liuest that thou wilt not the death of a sinner but rather that he should conuert and liue Ah deere Lord I confesse that I am a great and greeuous sinner and yet now by thy grace and good working of thy holie spirit something turned vnto thee Oh let me liue and not die the euerlasting death of the soule which I so deepelie haue deserued but make me a vessell of thy great mercie that I may liue and praise thy name among thy chosen children for euer Oh let not my horrible sinnes separate me from the sweet sight of thy Maiestie but let thy great power and mercie be magnified in me as it is in Dauid in Peter in Magdalen and in the notable Theefe which was crucified with Christ thy deere sonne in whose most pretious death and bloud-shedding onlie O Lord I put my whole trust and confidence For he onelie hath taken awaie the sinnes of the world he came not to condemne the world but to saue it that none that trulie beleeue in him should perish but haue life euerlasting He saith he came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance Oh gratious God giue me true earnest hartie and vnfeigned repentance that I may from the verie bottome of my hart continuallie lament my manifold
might dailie more and more trace thee out yea I haue a great while sore longed with so godlie affection as I could to celebrate thee in the frequented assemblies of the godlie which trulie I will now doo accordinglie by the grace and assistance of thy holie spirit and that with a most readie and ioifull mind as it behooueth And that this mine enterprise and beginning may proceede to a further good successe and amendment of my maners and imbettering of my life doo thou finish the thing O God which thou hast begun in me and make me continuallie to increase from faith to faith Yea so renew and shape me againe in innocencie and righteousnesse O grations Lord I beseech thee that as a person new borne of thee I may insearch thee againe and againe both in the dawning of the daie morning noone euening and night Now lead me forooard O Lord I beseech thee in thy righteousnesse let thy louing spirit direct my feete and make thy waies plaine before my face bicause of my mortall and inuisible enimies And doo thou vouchsafe luckilie to conduct my bodie this daie vnto thy materiall temple and to bring my soule at the last vnto thy holie hill and blessed mountaine which thou hast purchased with thy right hand that I may rest both bodie and soule in heauen and remaine with thee foreuer Amen Or praie thus O GOD the word who art the light by whom light was made who art the waie truth and life in whom there is no darknes ouersight vanitie nor death shine foorth O Lord my light mine inlightening and my welfare whom I will reuerence my Lord whom I will honour my Father whom I will loue my Iudge whom I will feare my Bridegroome whom I will cleaue vnto and keepe my selfe an vndefiled spouse Shine foorth O euerlasting light shine foorth I saie and lighten the Lampe of my virginitie with the oile of thy diuine grace and mercie that this blind soule of mine which yet sitteth in darknesse and shadowe of death may see the light and eschew darknesse see the waie and eschew straieng see the truth and eschew leasing see the life and eschew death And guide thou my feete vnto the waie of peace that by thy mercifull protection I may see the light walke in the light and neuer stumble vpon the snares of Sathan but may now passe thereby into the palace of thy woonderfull tabernacle and be able to climbe vp euen vnto the holie house and temple with the voice of gladnesse and confession there to abide and receiue at thy hands both mercie righteousnesse health blessing and euerlasting saluation with my fellowe-citizens thy Saints and houshold menie Amen Another godlie praier to be said either going towards or being in the Church LOoke what earnest and feruent desire soeuer the old fathers had O most mightie GOD to come vnto the place wherein thou hadst appointed a tabernacle to thy selfe for that time euen the like am I kindled withall in beholding the repairing of thy sacred Church and to see therin a very great companie of godlie men women lawfullie assembled together for the aduancement of thy glorie hearing thy holie doctrine dulie receiuing of thy blessed Sacraments accordinglie Wherefore I humblie beseech thee which art my God my King that I may this daie reioice to be there For what felicitie soeuer may be attained vnto in this fraile life I doubt not but it will light vpon the sacred companie of the godlie there assembled Giue eare therefore O excellent Father vnto mine earnest praiers grant that I make none other account of thy blessed house than thy will and pleasure is I should doo For a more blessed thing it were for me to haue one daies meeting and abode therein than if I abide neuer so great a time of continuance in the congregation of the vngodlie or in such a one as is not lawfullie assembled with the aduantage and ouer-plus of all the pleasures of this transitorie world Seeing that therefore thou art our most splendent light and strong defence cause our assemblies on the earth O God so to redound to thine vnspeakable glorie that our assured hope by comming in the end vnto thee in the euerlasting tabernacles of the heauens may be augmented and verie much increased through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen VVhen you enter into the Church meditate thus with your selfe and saie LORD who shall ascend into thy high hill Or who shall rise vp in thy holie place Euen he that hath cleane hands and a pure hart and hath not lift vp his mind vnto vanitie nor sworne to deceiue his neighbour He shall receiue the blessing from the Lord and righteousnesse from the God of his saluation This is the generation of them that seeke him euen of them that seeke thy face O Iacob Lift vp your heads O ye gates and be ye lift vp ye euerlasting doores and the King of glorie shall come in euen the Lord of hosts most mightie and strong Open me the gates of righteousnesse O Lord that I with the righteous nation that keepe thy truth may go into them and giue thanks vnto thee This is the gate of the Lord the righteous shall enter into it Yea blessed are they that doo thy commandements O God For their power shall be in the tree of life and they shall enter in through the gates into the holie citie new Ierusalem But without shall be dogs and inchanters and whooremongers and murderers and idolaters yea there shall enter into it none vncleane thing neither whatsoeuer worketh abhomination or maketh lies but they onlie which are written in the Lambes booke of life Amen Or thus LOrd who shall enter into thy sanctuarie to consider thy mightie power except thou open it vnto him And who shall open it if thou shut it Trulie O Lord my God I sillie worme and claie am not able to enter into thine euerlastingnesse vnlesse thou which hast made all things of nothing doo lead me in Yea I knowe Lord I knowe and confesse that I am vnwoorthie to enter vnder thy roofe but yet I beseech thee let a blessed entrance to the house of eternall felicitie whither I haue dailie a feruent desire to come be set open and made as a free passage vnto me O God And giue mee leaue now I praie thee though a dog and an vnwoorthie wretch euen for thine owne honour sake to enter into thy holie house and to approch thy sacred presence and confound not thy seruant that seeketh thee and putteth all hir trust and confidence in thy mercie Oh suffer me not I saie good Lord to knit vp and finish my last daies with malefactors and wicked persons but grant that after my long and dailie trauell in this transitorie world I may in the end at length be permitted through thy mercie to enter the courts of thy diuine presence and with thine elect and chosen seruants for euer inhabit the hauen of eternall felicitie through
Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Or saie thus as you enter into the Church O How amiable are thy dwellings thou LORD of hosts My soule hath a desire and longing to enter into the courts of the Lord my hart and my flesh reioice in the liuing God When shall I enter in to behold thy face When shall I come to appeare before thy presence O God For one daie in thy courts is better than a thousand else where I had rather be a doore-keeper in the house of my God than to dwell in the tents of the vngodlie Yea like as the Hart desireth the water brookes so longeth my soule after thee O God My soule is a thirst for God yea euen for the liuing God Now therfore I come into thy house O Lord euen vpon the multitude of thy mercies and in thy feare doo I enter thy tabernacle and will worship thee God grant it according to thy will Amen As you passe by the people in the Church vnto your Pue salute the congregation and saie PEace be within thy wals O Ierusalem and plentiousnesse within thy palaces For my brethren and companions sakes I will praie for thy peace and wish thee now prosperitie yea bicause of the house of the Lord our God I will seeke to doo thee good and saie Blessed is he that commeth in the name of the Lord. The Lord prosper you I wish you good lucke in the name of the Lord So be it Being placed in your Pue call to mind these sentences of holie Scripture following IT is written My house shall be called a house of praier vnto all nations but ye haue made it a den of theeues and an house of marchandise Matth. 21 verse 13. Ye shall keepe my Saboths and feare with reuerence my Sanctuarie I am the Lord. Leuit. 19 verse 30. Holinesse becommeth Gods house for euer Ps 93 ver 5. The Lord will vtterlie destroie euerie enimie that doth euill in his Sanctuarie that prophaneth his holie temple polluteth the dwelling place of his name Psal 74 verse 3. When thou commest into the house of God therefore keepe thy foote and drawe nigh that God which is at hand may heare that thou giue not the offerings of fooles For they knowe not but to doo euill Eccles 4 verse 17. Be not hastie with thy mouth I saie and let not thine hart speake anie thing rashlie before God For God is in heauen and thou vpon earth therefore let thy words be few Eccl. 5 verse 1. A Meditation wherein is shewed how we ought to be verie intentiue to the Psalmes and praiers in the Church WHen thou entrest the temple to pray or sing Psalmes leaue behind thee the heapes of wauering thoughts and forget vtterlie the care of outward things that thou maist giue all thine attendance to diuine matters For it is vnpossible for him to speake with God that talketh with the whole world in silence Intend thou him that intendeth thee heare him when he speaketh to thee that he may hearken to thee when thou praiest to him so shalt thou shew a carefull and due reuerence in magnifieng God and a christian attendance in giuing heed to his holie word Understand not this as though I performed that I speake of yet I striue to doo it repenting the omission of it in time past and sorowing that I am not able to attaine it presentlie But thou to whom God hath beene more liberall of his graces inclined his sacred eares towards thee with hartie praiers in sighs and teares beseech him most humblie to pardon thee all thy riots and excesse Extoll and magnifie him in the excellencie of his works with spirituall songs For this is most pleasing to the mightie Iehoua as him selfe doth witnesse The sacrifice of praise shall honour me O how happie wert thou if it were granted thee to behold with spirituall eies the araie of the celestiall princes that go before them that praise God in the midst of the damsels plaieng with their Timbrels Thou shouldest see doubtlesse with what endeuour and cheerefulnesse they accompanie them in singing assist them in praier in meditation comfort them protect them in time of rest direct them in all their affaires and businesse Uerelie the heauenlie powers doo loue their felowe-citizens and doo exceedinglie ioie in the societie of those that are free heires of saluation they with longing looke for our comming and earnestlie attend that the ruines and dis-peopling of their heauenlie citie may be filled vp againe in the multitude of our companies They doo curiouslie inquire and willinglie heare all good of vs. They be carefull messengers betweene God and vs and beare a faithfull witnesse of our dooing They disdaine not now to be our seruants that shall be our felowes we haue made them reioice in our conuersion and repentance Let vs haste then to fulfill their ioies ouer vs. Wo be vnto thee then that louest a returne to thy vomit and impuritie Dooest thou thinke to haue those witnesse for thee in iudgement whom thou hast bereaued of so great and long hoped-for ioie They reioiced ouer vs when we gaue our names first to Christ as if they had seene vs pulled out of hell gates But what will they doo then when they shall see those turned backe from the gate of Paradise who had alreadie almost one foote in heauen Wherefore though our bodies be on earth let vs set our harts on the highest heauens let vs run thither not with bodilie members but with spirituall affections desires and longing where not the angels onlie but the Creator of angels doth long looke for vs. God the father looketh for vs as his owne sonnes and heires to commit the rule of all his treasure vnto vs. God the sonne looketh for vs as his deere german brothers and coparteners that he may present God his father with the fruite of his natiuitie and price of his owne bloud The holie Ghost also looketh for vs for he verelie is that bountie and benignitie wherein from euerlasting we were predestinate to saluation and no doubt he wisheth our predestination accomplished Seeing then the whole court of heauen doth so earnestlie looke and wish for vs let vs with all zealous affection seeke after it For with great shame and a large cōfusion shall he come thither that is lead with a cold and luke-warme desire but whosoeuer in the strength of continuall praier and dailie meditation is alwaie conuersant there shall both from hence depart with securitie and there be receiued with triumphing ioie Therefore wheresoeuer thou be still praie within thy selfe If thou chance to be far from thy closet seeke no place For thou to thy selfe art a place If thou be in thy bed praie and praie often in the temple And in prostrating thy bodie lift vp thy mind to God For as there is no time wherein we doo not vse and enioie the goodnesse mercie of God so there ought to be no moment wherein his almightinesse ought not to
highest coasts of the heauen of heauens and sittest in the celestiall throne of eternall glorie betweene the Cherubins and Seraphins Looke downe I saie O most mightie Iehoua and haue respect now I beseech thee vnto thy sacred Sanctuarie and holie house of praier Let thine eies I saie O Lord be euer open towards thy blessed Tabernacle night and daie euen towards thy Church thy Temple and most sacred place on earth where thine honor dwelleth and whereof thou hast said My house shall be an house of praier for all people and nations and my name shall be called vpon therein that thou maist harken this daie vnto the praiers which we thy poore creatures and most vnwoorthie seruants make before thee in this place Heare thou therefore O our God euen from heauen the place of thy glorious habitation the supplications of thy seruants and also what praiers and supplications soeuer shall be made vnto thee of anie particular man or woman and of all the people Giue good eare I saie O Lord vnto all the cries praiers and petitions of thy people heere assembled or that shall be gathered together in thy name who with rent harts bowed knees and stretched out hands returne vnto thee and present themselues here this daie to confesse thee call vpon thy holie name in this place And when thou hearest pardon the sinnes of thy seruants and be mercifull vnto the offences and iniquities of thy people wherewith they haue sinned and transgressed or shall offend against thy Maiestie Heare vs I saie O Lord O holie Lord God heare vs we praie thee be mercifull vnto thine inheritance and doo and giue to euerie one of vs according vnto all and euerie thing that we call and praie for vnto thee this daie in this thy holie house according to thy will thorough Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Amen A psalme of preparation to praier in the morning I will giue thanks vnto the Lord with my whole hart secretlie among the faithfull and in the congregation and will saie O God my hart is readie my hart is readie here now now in thy holie house to paie thee my vowes which I promised with my lips and spake with my mouth when I was in trouble My voice shalt thou heare beetimes O Lord earlie in the morning will I direct my praiers vnto thee will looke vp I my selfe will awake right earlie to sing and giue praise vnto thee with the best member that I haue Unto thee my God will I lift vp my hands hart in this thy holie habitation towards the mercie-seat of thy holie temple In the voice of praise and thankes-giuing among such as keepe it holie daie For this is the daie which thou O Lord hast made I will reioice be glad in it In this daie of thy power will I offer the free-will offerings with an holie worship and magnifie thee in the congregation of the people From the ground of my hart will I reioice and giue thanks vnto thee my God in the seate of the elders for a remembrance of thy holinesse O let my mouth be filled with thy praise that I may sing of thy glorie and praise now and for euermore Glorie be to the c. As it was in the c. A Psalme to be vsed priuatelie before Euening praier in the Church IN the euening and morning and at noone daie will I praie and that instantlie he shall heare my voice My hart is fixed redie O God my hart is fixed redie I will praise thee and thy faithfulnesse yet more more with the best member that I haue euen with all my hart will I thanke thee and praise thy name for euermore My lips be faine to sing vnto thee and so is my soule whom thou hast deliuered yea my soule shall be satisfied with marowe and fatnesse when my mouth praiseth thee with ioifull lips For it is a good thing to giue thanks vnto the Lord and to sing praises vnto thy name O most high to tell of thy louing kindnesse earlie in the morning and of thy truth in the euening and night season yea a ioifull and pleasant thing it is to be thankfull vnto thee our God alwaie Therefore I will sing seuen times a daie and will praise thy mercie late in the euening bicause of thy righteous iudgements As for me I will be talking of thy worship thy glorie thy praise and woonderous works from time to time For great art thou O Lord and maruelous worthie to be praised and feared aboue all the gods yea thou canst not woorthilie be praised for there is none end of thy greatnesse nor goodnesse Behold now therfore praise the Lord all ye seruants of the Lord ye that by night stand in the house of the Lord euen in the middest of the courts of the house of our God Lift vp your hands in the sanctuarie and praise the Lord together with me For he is good and gratious and his mercie endureth for euer Yea let euerie good man and woman sing of thy praise O God and speake of thine honour in thy temple with cheerfull minds and that without ceasing for euer and saie The Lords name be praised from the rising vp of the sunne vnto the going downe of the same blessed be the Lord God of Israel from euerlasting worlds without end Amen Glorie be to the Father c. As it was in the c. Another preparation of the hart before euening praier in the Church LORD behold mine hart is at this present readie to sing praises more and more vnto thee and againe and againe to render vnto thee woorthie thanks here now in the assemblie of Saints Onelie I desire thee to hallowe vs from heauen thy dwelling place powre downe vpon vs thy holie sanctifieng spirit which may so wholie possesse our soules and preserue vs from all euill cogitations and motions of sinne and iniquitie that we may hallowe thy name this euening and euermore in all things flowe in thy word render the sacrifice of praise and thankes-giuing vnto thee and worship thee onelie in spirit and truth as our God most mightie in heauen and earth our righteous maker and the worker of all goodnesse in all such as beleeue in thee A cleane hart O God make thou in me restore in me a willing and a right spirit denie me not the holie Ghost For of my selfe I can performe nothing that is good Blesse me therefore O benigne Lord and indue me plentifullie with thy grace to the intent I may offer the acceptable euening sacrifice of thankes-giuing for nothing else verelie requirest thou and with glad semblance imbrace and celebrate thy righteousnesse espied in the releasing forgiuing of my sinnes Giue mee of thy goodnesse to this end that I may continuallie praise thy Maiestie daie and night with mysticall Psalmes spirituall songs Be thou euermore working through thy holie spirit in me which presentlie keepeth the godlie rest of the new Saboth
that were dead in sinne thou changest sinners and they are while they liue here no deadlie or damnable sinners Take awaie therefore from me whatsoeuer is in me that pleaseth not thee For thine eies doo see much vnperfectnesse in me Laie the hand I beseech thee of thy pitie on me whatsoeuer offendeth the eies of thy pietie remoue it from me In thy sight is both my health my disease the one I beseech thee to preserue the other to cure Doo thou heale me O Lord and I shall be healed do thou make me safe I shall be saued Thou I meane which dooest make whole them that be diseased and dooest preserue them that be cured which onlie with a becke dooest restore and repaire things that be decaied and fallen into ruine For if thou wilt vouchsafe to sowe anie good seed in the feeld of my hart of necessitie thou must plucke vp first with the hand of thy pittie the thornes of vices which be in it O most gratious most gentle most louing desired amiable and louelie of all others powre in my hart I beseech thee so great plentie of delectation in thee that I may desire no earthlie or carnall thing nor yet thinke vpon them but that I may loue thee alone that I may haue thee onlie in my hart in my mouth Write with thy finger in my brest the delectable remembrance of thy sweet name and so that it may not be blotted out with anie forgetfulnesse Write thy will in the tables of mine hart and also thy iustifications that I may alwaies and in euerie place haue thee O Lord before mine eies and in my sight Inflame my mind with that fire which thou diddest send into the earth and willedst it to be kindled that I might offer vnto thee dailie with teares a sacrifice of a troubled spirit and a repentant hart O sweet Christ O good Iesu euen according vnto my desire and euen as I hartilie require thee with my whole mind giue me thy holie and chast loue which may replenish and keepe me and also fullie possesse me Giue me an euident signe and token of thy loue euen a flowing well of teares which will continuallie runne that those teares may somewhat testifie thy loue in me that they may shew foorth and declare how much my soule loueth thee whiles for the great delectation it hath in the sweetnes of thy loue it may not refraine from shedding teares O good Lord I call to my remembrance sometimes that vertuous woman Hanna which came to the Tabernacle to praie that God would send hir a sonne of whom the scripture maketh mention that hir countenance after hir teares and praiers was not againe changed or altered But when I thinke vpon so great vertue constancie and stedfastnesse of that woman I doo blush and am vexed with sorrowe and confounded with shame bicause I a wretch doo perceiue my selfe to be fallen ouermuch from thee For if that good woman did weepe after such a sort and continued so in weeping which did search for nothing else but a sonne how ought my sinfull soule to mourne and to persist and abide in weeping that seeketh and looueth God and hath a desire to come vnto him How ought such a soule to mourne and weepe which seeketh God daie and night which will loue nothing but Christ My teares now trulie should be made meate vnto me daie and night Looke vpon me therefore O Lord and take pittie on me bicause the dolours and sorrowes of my hart are manie in number Giue me thy heauenlie consolation and doo not despise nor cast awaie a sinfull soule for the which thou didst die Giue me inward teares I beseech thee from the bottome of my hart which may wash awaie the spots of my sinnes Replenish my soule alwaies with heauenlie delectation and myrth that I may obteine some little portion or part in thy kingdome although not amongst the perfect men whose steps I cannot followe yet at the least among the religious women and inferiour sort And heere now the maruellous deuotion of another woman called Marie Magdalen commeth into my mind which with vertuous loue and godlie affection did seeke thee lieng in the sepulchre which when thy Disciples went awaie and departed from thee did remaine with thee hir selfe which sate there sad and sorowfull weeping long and verie much and when she did arise she searched with a diligent eie and with manie teares the corners of the sepulchre which was left emptie if she might espie thee out in anie place whom she with a feruent desire sought Yea and moreouer she went againe and againe to the sepulchre but that was not inough vnto hir neither did it satisfie hir desire For the grace of a good worke is to perseuere and continue in the same And bicause she did loue more than other and that in louing she wept and in weeping she searched and in searching she continued therfore was it thy pleasure that she should first find thee see thee and talke with thee before all other And not onelie this but also shee was a tidings-bearer of thy glorious resurrection vnto thy Disciples when thou didst command and bid hir saieng Go and tell my brethren that they go vnto Galilie there they shall see me c. Seeing therfore that that deuout woman did weepe after such a sort and continued in weeping which did seeke thee that wast aliue among the dead and touched thee with the hand of hir faith how ought a soule to mourne and to continue in mourning which beleeueth in thee with hir mouth doth acknowledge thee to be hir redeemer that sittest now in heauen and reignest euerie where How much therefore ought such a soule to mourne and weepe which loueth thee with all hir hart and with hir whole desire dooth couet to see thee Oh onlie refuge the onlie hope of wretches vnto whom no man or woman needeth at anie time to praie without hope of mercie grant vnto me this grace for thy sake and for thy holie name sake that as oft as I thinke vpon thee as oft as I speake of thee write of thee read of thee confer of thee as oft as euer I remember thee stand before thee offer vp praises praiers and sacrifice vnto thee so oft I may weepe abundantlie with teares in thy sight so that my teares may be to me in stead of bread daie and night Thou trulie O King of glorie and maister of all vertues hast taught vs with thy word and with thine example to mourne and weepe whereas thou saiest Blessed be they that mourne for they shall be comforted Thou didst weepe for thy frend Lazarus that was dead and didst let teares fall downe plentiouslie for the Citie which should perish I beseech thee O good Iesu by those most pretious teares and by all thy mercies and pities wherewith thou didst vouchsafe maruellouslie to helpe and succour vs that were lost giue me the grace to weepe and to be
is the fellowship of the heauenlie citizens and glorious is the solemnitie of all them that returne from the sorrowfull trauell of this our pilgrimage to the pleasantnes of beautie to the beautie of all brightnesse and to the flower of all excellencie where thy citizens behold thee continuallie O Lord. Nothing that may trouble the mind is offered there to the eare What songs what instruments what Carols what melodie what musicke soundeth there without end There sound alwaies most pleasant tunes of Hymnes and Psalmes most sweet melodie of Angels and most woonderfull ditties of songs which are sung to thy glorie by the celestiall inhabitants with heauenlie harmonie No harshnesse no gallie bitternesse nor iangling discords haue anie roome within thy realme For there is neither naughtie person nor naughtinesse There is none aduersarie nor impugner neither is there any inticement of sinne There is no needinesse no shame no bralling no mis-vsage no excusing no feare no vnquietnesse no penaltie no doubtfulnesse no violence no discord or contention But there is perfect peace full of loue continuall reioicing and praising of God carelesse rest without end and euerlasting gladnesse in the holie Ghost O how luckie should I sillie wretch be if I might heare the most pleasant Psalmes Hymnes and Carols of thy citizens and their sugred songs aduancing the praises of the souereigne Trinitie with due honour but ouer happie should I be might I once attaine to sing a song my selfe I saie to sing one of the sweet songs of Zion to our Lord Iesus Christ Another longing after the ioies of heauenlie Zion O Lightsome and glorions house of God I haue loued thy goodlinesse and the place where the glorie of the Lord God who both enioieth and hath created thee doth dwell In mine exile I sigh after thee both night and daie mine hart longeth my mind coueteth and my soule desireth to come vnto the societie of your happinesse My praier vnto him which made me is that he would possesse me in thee bicause he hath made both me and you For I desire your holie fellowship and woonderfull glorie not for anie merit of mine owne but I trust to attaine therevnto through the price of his bloud namelie of Iesus Christ whereby we be redeemed I confesse I haue gone astraie like a lost sheepe and haue too long dwelled out of my natiue soile and am far awaie cast from the face of the Lord my God into this blindnesse of banishment who driuen out of the ioies of paradise I bewaile with my selfe dailie the miserie of my captiuitie and sing a wofull song with great lamentation when I remember thee O mother Ierusalem while my feete doo but stand in thy courts O sacred and comlie Zion and I am not able plainlie to looke into thine inner places Notwithstanding I haue good hope vpon the shoulders of my good shepheard thy Creator to be brought back vnto thee that I may triumph againe with that vnspeakable ioie where withall they be cheered which dwell with thee before God his Maiestie and our Sauiour Christ which hath abrogated through his flesh the hatred and pacified all things both which are in heauen and which are in earth by his bloud For he is our peace which made of both one and ioining the two contrarie wals together hath promised that he will giue the euerlasting felicitie of your happinesse in himselfe after the like maner and measure when he said They shall be like the Angels of God in heauen Another longing or desire of the soule after the supernall Ierusalem O Mother Ierusalem the holie citie of God and the deerly beloued spouse of Christ after thee dooth mine hart couet and my soule exceedingly is in loue with thy beautie Oh how comlie how glorious how honourable art thou Thou art all faire there is no spot in thee Triumph and reioice O beautifull daughters of the Princes For the King hath a pleasure in thy fairenesse and loueth thy goodlie personage O thou fairer than the children of men But what is my beloued O thou fairest among women of the welbeloued My welbeloued is white and ruddie the chiefe of ten thousand Like as the apple trees of the forest so is my welbeloued among the sonnes of men Under his shadowe had I delight Lo now I sit and his fruit is sweet vnto my mouth My welbeloued put in his hand by the hole of the doore and mine hart was affectioned towards him In my bed by night I sought him that my soule loued I sought and I found him I hold and will not let him go vntill he bring me into my mothers house into the chamber of hir that conceiued me For there thou wilt giue mee thy teates most abundantlie and perfectlie and wilt satisfie mine hart with a maruelous satietie so that I shall neither hunger nor thirst anie more Oh happie shall my soule be yea happie and alwaies happie shall I be could I once get to behold thy glorie thine happinesse thy beautie thy gates thy wals thy streets thy manifold mansions thy noble citizens and thy mightie King in his Maiestie For thy wals are of pretious stones thy gates of the richest pearls and thy streets of the pure gold wherein is soong the ioifull Halleluiah without intermission Thy manifold buildings are founded vpon squared stones builded vpon Saphyres inclosed with golden wals whereinto none shall enter but the cleane neither shall anie vncleane person inhabit it Beautifull art thou become O mother Ierusalem and sweete in thy comforts No such thing is in thee as we suffer in this world and as we behold in this wretched life There is neither darknes nor night nor anie change of times in thee There shineth not in thee either the light of the lampe or the brightnesse of the moone or the glittering of the starres but the God of God light of light euen the sunne of righteousnesse euermore doth enlighten thee The white and vnspotted lambe is thy pure and cleare light thy sunne the cleerenesse and euerlasting contemplation of this most glorious king is all thine happinesse He is the King of kings in the middest of thee and you are his ministers about him There be the singing quires of Angels there be the companies of supernall citizens there the solemnitie of all which haue returned from this wofull peregrination vnto thy ioies There be the prudent Prophets the twelue Apostles the victorious host of infinite Martyrs and the sacred conuent of holie Confessors is there There be both vpright men and holie virgins which haue ouercome the pleasures of this world and the weakenesse of sexe There be those yoong men and maidens old men matrons which haue spent their time in godlie conuersation There be the sheepe lambs that haue escaped the snares of this world where they now triumph in their seuerall mansions The glorie of each particular man differeth but common is the ioie of them all There full and perfect charitie doth reigne
vnitie peace and concord We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to giue vs an hart to loue and dread thee and diligentlie to liue after thy commandements We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to giue all thy people increase of grace to heare meekelie thy word and to receiue it with pure affection and to bring foorth the fruits of the spirit We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to bring into the waie of truth all such as haue erred and are deceiued We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to strengthen such as doo stand and to comfort and helpe the weake-harted and to raise vp them that fall and finallie to beate downe Sathan vnder our feete We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to succour helpe and comfort all that be in danger necessitie and tribulation We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to preserue all that trauell by land or by water all women labouring of child all sicke persons and yoong children and to shew thy pitie vpon all prisoners and captiues We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to defend and prouide for the fatherlesse children and widowes and all that bee desolate and oppressed We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to haue mercie vpon all men We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to forgiue our enimies persecutors and slanderers and to turne their harts We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to giue and preserue to our vse the kindlie fruits of the earth so as in due time we may enioie them We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thee to giue vs true repentance to forgiue vs all our sinnes negligences and ignorances and to endue vs with the grace of thy holie spirit to amend our liues according to thy holie word We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. Sonne of God we beseech thee to heare vs. Sonne of God we beseech thee to heare vs. O Lambe of God that takest awaie the sinnes of the world Grant vs thy peace O Lambe of God that takest awaie the sinnes of the world Haue mercie vpon vs. O Christ heare vs. O Christ heare vs. Lord haue mercie vpon vs. Lord haue mercie vpon vs. Christ haue mercie vpon vs. Christ haue mercie vpon vs. Lord haue mercie vpon vs. Lord haue mercie vpon vs. Our father which art in heauen c. The Versicle O Lord deale not with vs after our sinnes The Answere Neither reward vs after our iniquities Let vs praie O God mercifull father that despisest not the sighing of a contrite hart nor the desires of such as be sorowfull mercifullie assist our praiers that we make before thee in all our troubles and aduersities whensoeuer they oppresse vs and gratiouslie heare vs that those euils which the craft and subtiltie of the diuell or man worketh against vs be brought to naught and by the prouidence of thy goodnesse they may be dispersed that we thy seruants being hurt by no persecutions may euermore giue thanks vnto thee in thy holie Church through Iesus Christ our Lord. O Lord arise helpe vs and deliuer vs for thy name sake O God we haue heard with our eares and our fathers haue declared vnto vs the noble works that thou diddest in their daies and in the old time before them O Lord arise helpe vs and deliuer vs for thine honour Glorie be to the Father and to the Sonne c. As it was in the beginning is now and euer c. From our enimies defend vs O Christ Gratiouslie looke vpon our afflictions Pitifullie behold the sorrowes of our harts Mercifullie forgiue the sinnes of thy people Fauourablie with mercie heare our praiers O sonne of Dauid haue mercie vpon vs. Both now euer vouchsafe to heare vs O Christ Gratiouslie heare vs ô Christ Gratiouslie heare vs ô Lord Christ The Versicle O Lord let thy mercie be shewed vpon vs. The Answere As we doo put our trust in thee Let vs praie WE humblie beseech thee O Father mercifullie to looke vpon our infirmities and for the glorie of thy name sake turne from vs all those euils that we most worthilie haue deserued and grant that in all our troubles we may put our whole trust and confidence in thy mercie and euermore serue thee in holinesse and purenesse of life to thy honour and glorie through our onlie mediator and aduocate Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A praier for the Queenes Maiestie O Lord our heauenlie father high and mightie King of kings Lord of lords the onlie ruler of princes which dooest from thy throne behold all the dwellers vpon earth most hartilie we beseech thee with thy fauour to behold our most gratious souereigne ladie Queene Elizabeth and so replenish hir with the grace of thy holie spirit that she may alwaie incline to thy will and walke in thy waie Indue hir plentifullie with heauenlie gifts graunt hir in health and wealth long to liue strengthen hir that she may vanquish and ouercome all hir enimies and finallie after this life she may attaine euerlasting ioie and felicitie through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A praier for Bishops and Curates ALmightie and euerlasting God which onlie workest great maruels send downe vpon our Bishops and Curates and all congregations committed to their charge the healthfull spirit of thy grace and that they may trulie please thee powre vpon them the continuall dewe of thy blessing Grant this O Lord for the honour of our Aduocate and Mediatour Iesu Christ Amen A praier of Chrysostome ALmightie God which hast giuen vs grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplications vnto thee and dooest promise that when two or three be gathered together in thy name thou wilt grant their requests fulfill now O Lord the desires and petitions of thy seruants as may be most expedient for them granting vs in this world knowledge of thy truth and in the world to come life euerlasting Amen 2. Corinth 13 verse 13. THE grace of our Lord Iesus Christ and the loue of God and the fellowship of the holie Ghost bee with vs all euermore Amen ¶ Other godlie Collects and praiers to be vsed after the Letanie as occasion serueth and first In time of drought for raine O GOD heauenlie father which by thy sonne Iesus Christ hast promised to all them that seeke thy kingdome and the righteousnesse thereof all things necessarie to their bodilie sustenance send vs wee beseech thee in this our necessitie such moderate raine and showers that we may receiue the fruites of the earth to our comfort and to thy honor through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Another ALmightie God mercifull Father who in thy holie word hast promised to
Iesus Christ our Lord and onelie Sauiour to whom with thee and the holie Ghost be giuen all honour glorie praise and thankes-giuing not onelie of me miserable sinner and vnwoorthie wretch but also of all men Angels and creatures both in heauen and in earth from this time foorth for euermore Amen Luke 15 verses 6 7. Reioice with me saith Christ For I haue found my sheepe which was lost yea I saie vnto you there is ioie in heauen in the presence of the Angels of God ouer one sinner that repenteth more than ouer ninetie and nine iust persons which neede no repentance A praier to be vsed for the conuersion of anie notorious sinner that doth open penance in the Church PItifull God omnipotent Lord and mercifull Father who for that good will thou bearest vnto vs in Iesus Christ thy deere sonne wilt not the death and destruction of a sinner but rather that he by the inspiration and moouing of thy holie spirit conuert and liue who also doost witnesse the vertue and strength of thy word to be such that it causeth the mountaines to shake the rocks tremble and the flouds to drie vp behold we thy children and people here prostrate before thee most humblie beseech thee for Iesus Christs sake pitifullie to looke vpon all sinners and especiallie vpon this our sister here present who once was baptised in thy name and hath professed hir selfe subiect to this religion and vnto the discipline of thy Church though Satan alas now for a while hath so blinded hir that wilfullie shee hath contemned both the one and the other But O Lord as thou alone knowest so maist thou alone change and mollifie the harts of the impenitent sinners thou I saie which by the voice of the prophet Nathan awakedst Dauid from his deadlie securitie and who without anie prophet didst beate downe the pride of Manasses in the prison after that he had filled Ierusalem with all kind of impietie thou which turnedst the hart of Peter at the onelie looke of thy deere sonne our Lord Iesus Christ after that fearfullie with horrible imprecations hee had thrise denied and openlie forsworne thee thou which openedst the eies of the blind excommunicate man and causedst him to beleeue thy saiengs which forgauest the woman taken in adulterie sentst hir awaie vncondemned of thee hir accusers thou I saie O Lord whose mercies without measure endure for euer To thee doo we praie for this our sister heere presentlie punished and dooing open penance for hir offences earnestlie desiring thee O father of mercies first so to pierce and moue hir heart with the feare of thy seuere iudgements which sufferest no child of thine to go vncorrected in this world to the end they may escape vnpunished in the world to come and so to open hir eies that she may begin to see and vnderstand how fearefull and terrible a thing it is to fall into thy hands and to prouoke thy wrath and indignation against hir Let it please thy Maiestie by the vertue of thy holie spirit so to mollifie hir hard hart I saie that she may now at length feele how greeuouslie she hath offended both against thee and the Church and giue hir thy grace to acknowledge accuse and damne as well before vs whome she hath offended as before thy presence this hir contempt and sinne so notorious and damnable least that by hir obstinacie and wilfull rebellion thy Church and congregation being further prouoked be compelled with greefe of harts to cut hir quite off from thy mysticall bodie whome we O Lord vnfeinedlie desire to receiue within the Church as a liuelie member of thy deere sonne our Lord Iesus Christ Heare vs mercifull father call backe againe this our deere sister from eternall destruction where-into Sathan would leade hir that we all who before thy presence euen for hir rebellion and transgressions doo mourne may receiue hir againe with gladnes and ioie and so render praise and honour vnto thee before this thy holie congregation We grant our selues O Lord vnworthie whome thou shouldest heare because we cease not to offend thee by our continuall transgressing of thy holie precepts Looke not vpon vs mercifull father in this our corrupt nature but looke downe to thy deere sonne whome thou of thy meere mercie hast appointed our head high Bishop aduocate mediator and onlie propitiator In him and in the merits of his death we humblie beseech thee mercifullie to behold vs and suffer not the most innocent bloud of thy deere sonne shead for vs and this our penitent sister to be prophaned by the tyrannie and sleight of Sathan but by the vertue of the same let our sister be brought to vnfeined repentance and conuersion that so she may escape that fearfull indignation into the which she appeareth to haue fallen Grant I saie O Lord vnto this our sister the repentance of the hart and sincere confession of the mouth to the praise of thy name to the comfort of thy Church and to the confusion of Sathan And vnto vs grant O Lord that albeit we cannot liue altogether cleane from sinne and void of offences yet that we fall not into the like horrible crimes of impietie and contempt to the dishonour of thy holie name to the slander and offence of our brethren and sisters and infamie of thy holie Religion and Gospell which we professe Let thy godlie power O Lord so perpetuallie assist and strengthen our weakenesse and conduct vs in all the course of our whole life that neither the craft of Sathan nor the tyrannie of sinne drawe vs vtterlie from the obedience required in true Christians but that contrarilie beeing subiect to the voice of thy Church and to the ministers of the same vnder thee by holinesse and innocencie of life we may declare to the wicked generation what difference there is betweene the children of light and the children of darkenesse that all men seeing our good works may praise thee in the daie of visitation This we aske of thee O heauenlie Father in the boldnesse of our head and mediator Iesus Christ praieng furthermore as he hath taught vs Our Father c. Another praier to be said of the beholders of anie offender in the Church or else-where ALmightie God and most mercifull father whose iudgements are vnsearchable and whose waies are past finding out teach vs to iudge wiselie of this our sister and all other afflicted with thy hand not condemning them but rather profiting by them that their example may leade vs to repentance and bringing foorth such fruits as thou requirest of all those that are planted in thy Church least by continuing fruitlesse we prouoke thee at the last to the cutting of vs downe And because thou hast giuen vs a sauiour able to heale all our infirmities deliuer vs by him O Lord from all the bonds of Sathan that being set at libertie by him we may fore-see the straight doore and enter into it leauing the wide gate that leadeth
beeing made thine adopted children we may by the sanctification of thy spirit inherit the euerlasting kingdome through the same Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Or praie for the fruits of Baptisme thus MOst heauenlie and eternall father we thy humble seruants entirelie desire thy fatherlie goodnesse that as thou hast begun in vs a newe birth washed vs with the fountaine of regeneration whereby we are made members of thy bodie and elected into the number and felowship of thy Church and congregation so thou wouldest powre vpon vs the grace of thy spirit to direct our liues according to this beginning in holinesse and purenesse that we may mortifie the lusts of the flesh resist the assaults of Sathan and auoide the alurements of the wicked world remembring alwaies that Baptisme doth represent vnto vs our vocation quenching those sparks of concupiscence that we all drawe from the old Adam and quickning vs in those good fruits of Christ our Sauiour who continuallie preserue vs with his holie spirit for euer and euer Amen Or praie for the continuance of the true institution of the Sacraments thus O Most mightie and most mercifull God by whose power the heauens and earth and all things therein are created who hast placed euerie thing in a most excellent order and hast framed man after thine owne similitude and image raising him from hell to heauen from wo to ioie from damnation to saluation and hast giuen him through thy sonne Iesu Christ a most sure bond of thy promise made in the beginning to mankind for the redemption of the world sending thine onlie begotten Sonne Iesu Christ to performe the same who made one onelie oblation and sacrifice for the sinnes of the whole world and did ordaine and institute two most holie Sacraments to continue the remembrance of the same make vs euer mindfull we beseech thee of these thine inestimable treasures Continue oh Lord this thy fauour towards vs. Let not tyrants preuaile against thy Church but let thy mightie power be shewed that the sacred rites may cōtinue in thy Church that the enimies may be ouerthrowne as the Turke who would vtterlie destroie those most holie Sacraments which thou hast ordeined for our saluation as the Anabaptists which like heretikes alter thy most holie institution as the Atheists who bred in them great corruption Conuert them we beseech thee O Lord and establish vs in the truth of thy holie spirit by thy mightie power that both now and euer wee may continue in the right institution of thy Sacraments which thy Sonne our Sauiour Christ hath left most perfect vnto vs to the endlesse ioie and consolation of our soules To whome therefore with thee and the holie Ghost be all honour glorie and praise world without end Amen Prouerbes 9. verse 1. WIsedome hath built hir house and hewen out hir seauen pillers she hath killed hir victuals drawne hir wine and prepared hir table she hath sent foorth hir virgins and crieth vpon the high places of the citie saieng Who so is simple let him come hither and to him that is destitute of wisedome she saith Come and eate of my meate and drinke of my wine that I haue drawne Canti 5. I AM come saith Christ vnto his spouse the Church into my garden my sister my spouse I gathered my mirrh with my spice I ate my honie-combe with my honie I dranke my wine with my milke Eate ô freends drinke and make ye merrie ô welbeloued Reuelation 19. HAppie and blessed are they which are called vnto the Lambes supper Christian praiers to be said before at and after ye receiue the holie Communion and first An effectuall meditation of the right Christian beleefe in the holie Sacrament of the Lords supper and of the woorthie and fruitefull receiuing the same to our comfort and saluation to be diligentlie read before you receiue O My soule let vs now carefullie consider first whether we bee come namelie to the celestiall table heauenlie banket greate feast costlie repast and sumptuous supper of the most puissant glorious mightie and magnificent King of kinges and Lord of lordes Iesus Christ thy most mercifull maker righteous redeemer souereigne sauiour and deere spouse and that of necessitie as both forced therevnto by his iust commandement and also allured and inuited by his mercifull promises Secondlie O my soule let vs rightlie knowe and diligentlie marke what things are heere presentlie set before vs on this holie Table and prouided for vs in this blessed banket to taste of namelie that the deintie dishes and the refection and meate which we must in verie deede seeke for onelie in this sacred supper are no vaine ceremonies no bare signe no vntrue figure of a thing absent no earthlie bodie no carnall meate nor anie fleshlie substance but as the sacred Scripture saith and other holie men doo rightlie tearme and call them The Bread and Cup of the Lord a heauenlie refection the sweet deinties of our sauiour the nourishment of our soules an inuisible meate a spirituall foode a ghostlie substance which all are heere now most mercifullie offered and exhibited vnto vs and all other faithfull soules as the soueraigne preseruatiue against death the conseruatorie to euerlasting life the comfortable medicine of the soule the salue of immortalitie the pledge of eternall health the defence of faith the hope of the resurrection the memorie of Christ the annuntiation of his death finallie the communion of the bodie and bloud of the Lord Iesus in a maruellous incorporation which by the holie Ghost the verie bond of our perfection with Christ is through faith wrought in the soules of the faithfull whereby not onlie their soules doo liue to eternall life but also they surelie trust to win to their bodies a resurrection to immortalitie In the which also we may not onlie heare see taste and knowe the mercie of God our Creator sealed the sanctification by Christ our redeemer towards vs confirmed the remission of our sinnes through the holie Ghost our comforter and regenerator fullie satisfied and established but also most sensiblie and effectuallie to our further comfort in deed feele wrought in vs the tranquillitie of conscience the increase of faith the strengthening of hope and the long spreading abroad of brotherlie loue and kindnesse with manie other sundrie maruellous graces and benefits of God most profitable vnto vs. Which things well considered and weighed my soule O with what feruent affection and earnest zeale ought they now to inflame our hart and kindle our mind greedilie to couet and desire the participation of these most holie mysteries yea often to long and hunger after this healthsome bread and continuallie thirst for this diuine heauenlie and blessed food Thirdlie and lastlie O my soule let vs aduisedlie call to mind and well vnderstand the cause wherefore wee are now come vnto this holie table of the Lord which indeed is onlie to this end that we should now be godlie ghests not idle gazers hungrie eaters not steruing
and let not perpetuall food be wanting to our weakenesse wherewith to feed and replenish vs. Let me taste of the pleasant riuers of the holie Ghost that I may be refreshed and that my soule may be cooled with the sweet liquors thereof so that I burne hencefoorth with no iniquitie or lust to sinne Make me to quaffe hartilie the cup of thankes-giuing yea let my bowels be filled with the pleasant wine of thy loue and refresh me continuallie with the most sweet riuers of thy heauenlie consolation Thou art my life whereby I liue the hope that I sticke vnto the glorie that I desire O giue me vnderstanding cheere vp my loue Lift thou vp my soule and drawe the mouth of my spirit which thirsteth after thee vp to the water streames that are aboue Uouchsafe sweet Iesu in the midst of my monings sore complaints and deepe sighs of my hart to take vp my sad and sorowfull mind to the top of the high mountains euen to the beds of sweet spices putting me in a place of pasture by the riuers of sweet waters where thou preparest a table diuerselie furnished for thy friends against they come to refresh mine appalled spirits to cheere vp my heauie hart make it merie Through the which deinties I being at the length well refreshed may forget my manifold miseries and the vanities of this life and rest in thee which art the true peace euerlasting passing all vnderstanding Lord God which art the sanctifier of the Saints I beseech thee consecrate and make me meete for thy dwelling and continue thou euer with me vouchsafe all to besprinkle me with the bloud of thy onlie begotten sonne by which one souereigne thing both in bodie and soule I may be reuiued with a maruellous comfortable ioie O Lord these are thy great benefits wherewith thou wilt releeue the want of thy thirstie children grant I beseech thee that I may drinke on thy cup with a glad mind willing hart pure conscience and clensed spirit and bring to passe by thy mercie that this drinke which I shall now drinke may be to my health and saluation Finallie grant O good God that I may through thy most rich spirit and his eternall deinties enioie the princelie palace of heauen and quaffing verie abundantlie of the well-spring of life which is with thee I may by the excellent benefit of thy glorious passion death resurrection and light behold the brightnesse of perpetuall felicitie and see thee face to face where my mind may be fed and full satiate with the meate and drinke of life without end For like as the hart thirsteth after the water springs so thirsteth my soule after thee O Lord my GOD and King Amen When you are about to receiue the wine or cup praie I Thanke thee deere father that thou didst not spare thine onelie and most deerlie beloued sonne Iesus Christ to shed euen his most pretious bloud vpon the altar of the Crosse for to wash awaie our sinnes In remembrance whereof I now in trembling and dread drinke of this cup humblie beseeching thee O Father that the crucifieng of his blessed bodie and shedding of his pretious bloud may be meritorious to my saluation Amen Or else thus O Blessed and mercifull Father thy loue towards me sinfull creature is so exceeding great and vnspeakable that I can not but giue vnto thee most humble thanks namelie for the shedding of the most pretious blood of thy deere sonne Iesu Christ by the vertue whereof thy wrath stirred vp against me wretched sinner is pacified my ransome is paid the lawe is fulfilled mine enimies are ourcome and put to flight In remembrance of this so noble a victorie and of so great a benefit I am come vnto this thy table O mercifull father to drinke of this cup desiring thee that as my outward man is comforted by the drinking of this wine so likewise my inward man may be comforted and made strong by true faith in the pretious blood of thy most deere sonne O Lord and my heauenlie Father giue me thy holie spirit which may so rule and gouerne my hart that I neuer be vnthankfull nor forgetfull of this thine exceeding kindnesse but to traine my life according to thy blessed will that whatsoeuer I doo speake or thinke may be vnto the glorie of thy blessed name and the health of my soule through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen After you haue receiued the holie Communion giue God thanks and saie I Thanke thee good Lord of thine infinite goodnesse that thou this daie hast fed me with thy blessed bodie bloud in the Sacrament desiring thee meeklie that this Sacrament which I haue receiued may be to me a purgation and clensing of my sins a fortitude spiritual strength against my frailtie a sure defence against worldlie troubles and aduersities a purchasing of grace and pardon a medicine of life and a continuall remembrance of thy blessed passion so that in the waie it may conduct me when I stumble it may vphold me and when I am fallen it may raise me so that by good continuance in thy will to euerlasting glorie it may bring me And so order the tallage and taste of my hart that I neuer seeke other sweetnesse but thee that I neuer seeke other louer but thee nor none other comfort beside thee so that I care for none other delight but thee nor anie other honour but thine And giue mee such perfect loue towards thee wherewith I may come to as great merit in heauen as though I had spent all my life daies in the remembrance of thy blessed passion and gratiouslie deliuer me from all tribulations of bodie and soule captiuitie anguish and perils This grant not onlie vnto me but also vnto all thine elect and chosen Christian people heere and else-where for thy holie name sake Amen Another thanks-giuing after the Communion I Thanke thee O Christ Lambe of God for offering thy selfe vpon the altar of the crosse to thy Father an offering and a sacrifice of a sweet sauour to God for our sinnes to reconcile vs vnto him for certaintie whereof and confirmation of our faith thou hast instituted on our behalfe this holie Sacrament of the supper that as oft as we receiue the same we may celebrate thy memorie and with thankes-giuing remember the merit and fruit of thy passion I beseech thee by thy bitter death stirre vp our minds that by often receiuing this thine ordinance and institution we may consider how bitter a death thou didst suffer on our behalfe and how great the loue was which draue thee to take so cruell and shamefull a death to saue vs and withall continuallie yeeld as we are bound hartie thanks vnto thee for the same and after the like sort answer to our power that vnspeakable good will by our good life and carefull obseruation of thy commandements and may when either through frailtie of our flesh or by anie other fault preuented we sinne runne by and by
consideration and knowledge of so great a benefit to giue God thanks therefore and to be gratefull for his goodnesse BLesse the Lord O my soule and all mine entrailes laud his most holie name Forget not O my soule the infinite mercies and continuall benefits receiued of his most liberall hand amongst the which well maist thou reckon that which hath been this daie giuen thee that so infinite a Maiestie should vouchsafe to visite thee to enter into thy homelie habitation and with surpassing clemencie wholie to giue himselfe to thee in this most maruellous Sacrament O thou incomprehensible God no lesse pitifull than puissant what shall I saie seeing the depth of thy bottomlesse mercies hath vouchsafed to impart it selfe to the depth of mine vnspekable miseries What thanks can I yeeld thee for so great kindnesse and loue who wot right well that if all the members and muscles of my bodie were turned into tongues yet could I not condignelie thanke thee for the least of all thy benefits How much lesse able shall I then be with one tongue to laud and thanke thee for this present gift being of so great and inestimable a value If Elizabeth the mother of the fore-runner Saint Iohn Baptist being visited of the most sacred virgin Marie thy mother when she perceiued thy presence illuminated with the holie Ghost was so astonished thereat as she cried out alowd and said Whence haue I this that the mother of my Lord dooth come to me How much more iustlie am I to be astonished and to crie out Whence haue I this that the onlie sonne of that most blessed virgin euen my Lord himselfe and Lord of all Angels heauen and earth and of all the creatures of the world hath visited me entred into me honoured me fostered me and filled me in this most woorthie Sacrament Whence haue I this that a Lord so high so puissant so woorthie of all worship hath vouchsafed to come vnto mee a most wretched worme to me the most heinous sinner of all sinners to me that haue so manie times offended him to me that with my lewdnesse and abhominations haue so oft banished and expelled him out of me Woorthilie did the holie Prophets Iob and Dauid woonder at thy diuine clemencie at what time they said What is man that thou so magnifiest him What is the sonne of man that thus thou visitest him But much greater reason haue we most wretched caitifs to saie the same in these our daies What is man that thou hast thus extolled him as for man to make thy selfe man and to giue thy selfe in foode to man wherewith he may euerie daie be visited and refreshed And albeit all men may maruell at this thy diuine clemencie vsed towards man much more yet may I maruell which of all men am the basest and vnwoorthiest If Dauid when king Saule would haue chosen him for his sonne in lawe reputed himselfe vnwoorthie and said What am I or what is my life or my fathers linage that I should be a sonne in lawe to a king How much more cause haue I now to saie the same seeing the King of all kings hath admitted mee to so high a dignitie What am I or what is my fathers offspring What other am I than a vessell of corruption a sacke of doong and filth ingendred of a most vile stinking matter touching my flesh which ere long shall yeeld food to woormes and am concerning my soule all soiled with sinne fraught with ignorance and forgetfulnesse with manie mo defects and wicked inclinations What other is my life than a vanitie a puffe of wind a smoke and shadowe that quicklie vanisheth a confusion and disorder a continuall exercise of sinne and transgressions of thy commandements Such hath my life mine exercises and mine inclinations beene such also is my father Adams offspring and all his ancient familie sith all that descend of him are generallie borne thus blemished thus bent and all like children of a traitour as he was adiudged to suffer death Wherefore O most puissant Prince and dreadfull King aboue all kings thou knowing me and my life to haue been such much woorse than I either knowe or can imagine hast vouchsafed to receiue me not for a sonne in lawe but for thine owne child and as a yoonger one right tenderlie beloued For such are fathers accustomed most of all to cherish as now thou hast cherished and fed me with this Angels bread wherein is found all sauour and all diuine delight S. Luke reporteth how one of those ghests that were at table with thee in a prince of the Pharisies house should saie Blessed are those that shall eate the bread of life in the kingdome of heauen but much more happie am I if I can knowe it and gather fruit out of it which in this life rate the bread wherein is the selfe-same God spirituallie by faith conteined and therewith receiue a pledge to eate him in his euerlasting kingdome Happie eke are all those that shall dispose themselues to repaire to this most gratious banket wherein are found all sweet tasts and sauours all riches and renowme and all the things that happilie be to be desired Yea what is it that man may long for that is not here offered him If he desire delights and pleasures here be the sincerest the choisest the sweetest If he wish for wealth behold here the treasure that inricheth both heauen and earth If state and souereigntie be sought for behold here the highest dignities that can be possiblie atchieued Sith by meanes of this most venerable sacrament the soule is vnited to God and resteth associated and reuerenced with quires of Angels that assist about it Wherefore O ye blind beguiled children of Adam what other pleasure profit doo you prowle for Why doo you as Esaie saith spend your monie and not vpon bread Why imploie you your trauell and not in this that may satiate and content you Why loose you such satietie such sweetnesse and such treasure as is here conteined in this gift Doo not thou so O my soule doo not thou so be not thou henceforth anie more blind see thou seeke not anie carnall contentations hauing meanes to be a partaker of this meere spirituall and celestiall delight Take no more taste and pleasure in the food of death whereof thou earst didst feed hauing this bread of life giuen and granted vnto thee Regard not the pomps and most vaine vanities of this world seeing thou maiest enioie in this Sacrament the true happinesse and good things which in the world cannot possiblie be atteined Imbrace and keepe this treasure which sufficeth to make thee trulie happie possesse this good which exceedeth all good content and quiet thy selfe in this repose which may abundantlie satiate thy desire and be not ingratefull to this thy benefactor but yeeld him hartie thanks as well for this as all other benefits heretofore from the beginning bestowed vpon thee Howbeit my gratious and mercifull Lord
enimies to helpe thy weaknesse to possesse thee with peace and gladnesse to make thee thankfull to thy redeemer and carefull to lead a godlie conuersation and to comfort thee with their presence in weale and wo thou hast receiued his bodie I saie to indue thee with euerlasting righteousnesse to assure thee of perpetuall blisse and life eternall For with Christ by true faith art thou my soule quickened againe from death of sin to life of grace and in hope translated from corporall and euerlasting death to the euerlasting life of glorie in heauen where now from hencefoorth thy conuersation indeed should be and thy hart and desire alwaie fixed and set Doubt not therfore O my soule of the truth of this matter how great and high so euer these mysteries and things be For it becommeth thy God to doo no little deeds how impossible so euer they seeme to thee But praie to God hartilie that thou maist haue faith to perceiue these great mysteries that by faith thou maist certeinlie knowe and beleeue nothing to be impossible with God Onelie bring thou faith I saie to Christs holie word and Sacraments and thou shalt well feele and perceiue the benefits of Christ conteined therein to thy comfort Let thy repentance shew thy faith also let thy purpose of amendement and obedience of thy hart to Gods lawe hereafter declare thy true beleefe And now endeuour thy selfe O my soule to saie with S. Paule From hencefoorth my conuersation is in heauen from whence I looke for a Sauiour euen the Lord Iesus Christ which shall change our vile bodies that they may be made and fashioned like to his glorious bodie which he shall doo by the same power whereby he rose againe from death and wherby he shall be able to subdue all things vnto himselfe For else what shall it auaile thee O my soule to bee escaped and deliuered from the filthinesse of the world through the knowledge of thy Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ if thou be intangled againe therewith and be thereby ouercome againe Certeinlie it had beene better neuer to haue knowne the waie of righteousnesse than after it is knowne and receiued to turne back-ward againe from the holie and most righteous commandements of God giuen vnto thee so shall the prouerbe be verified of thee where it is said The dog is returned to his vomit againe and the sow that was washed to hir wallowing in the mire againe Oh what a shame were it for thee O my soule being thus so cleerelie and freelie washed from thy sinnes to returne to the filthinesse thereof againe What a great follie were it thus indued with righteousnesse to loose it againe Yea what wilfull madnesse were it to loose the inheritance that thou art now set in for the vile and transitorie pleasures of sinne Finallie what vnnaturall vnkindnesse should it be where thy Sauiour Christ of his meere mercie is come to thee to dwell within thee as thy ghest to driue him from thee and to banish him violentlie out of thee and in stead of him in whome is all grace and vertue to receiue the vngratious spirit of the diuell the founder of all vnrighteousnesse naughtinesse and mischiefe Oh my soule how canst thou find in thy hart I saie to shew such extreame vnkindnes to Christ Iesus which hath now so gentlie called thee to mercie offered and giuen himselfe vnto thee and is now entred into thee Yea how darest thou be so bold to renounce the presence of the Father the Sonne and the holie Ghost for where one is there God all whole in Maiestie together with all his power wisedome and goodnesse is and fearest thou not the danger and perill of so traiterous a defiance and departure O my soule aduise thy selfe well what thou dooest consider the dignitie thou art now set in and how thou art therfore cleansed washed sanctified and renewed that thou shouldest from hencefoorth sinne no more but serue God in true holinesse and righteousnesse all the daies of thy life that in the end thou maist reigne with him in euerlasting life If thou refuse so great grace whereto thou art called what other thing dooest thou than heape vp thy damnation more and more and so prouoke God to cast his heauie displeasure vpon thee and by his iust plagues to reuenge this thy mockage of his holie Sacraments in so great abusing of them Be verie warie and well aduised therefore I saie O my soule how from hencefoorth thou dooest behaue thy selfe and let not follie loose that thing which grace hath so pretiouslie offered and purchased Let not wilfulnesse and blindnesse put out so great light as is shewed vnto thee but applie thy selfe to liue in Christ that Christ may still liue in thee whose fauour and assistance if thou haue then hast thou euerlasting life alreadie within thee then can nothing hurt thee whatsoeuer is hitherto done amisse and committed Christ thou seest hath offered thee pardon and cleerelie receiued thee into his fauour againe in full suretie whereof thou hast him now presentlie inhabiting and dwelling within thee Onlie take good hart vnto thee shew thy selfe thankefull in thy life and determine with thy selfe to refuse auoid detest and abhorre all such things in thy conuersation as should offend the eies of his mercie Endeuour thy selfe now I saie O my soule that waie to rise vp againe which waie thou hast fallen into the pit or sinke of sin as if by thy tong thou hast offended now thereby rise againe and glorifie God therewithall accustome it to laud and praise the name of God as thou hast therewith dishonoured it And as thou hast hurt the good name of thy neighbour or otherwise hindered him so now intend to restore it to him againe for without restitution God accepteth not thy confession nor yet thy repentance It is not ynough to forsake euill except thou set thy courage to doo good By what occasion soeuer therfore thou hast offended I saie turne now the occasion vnto the honouring of God and profiting of thy neighbour True it is O my soule that sin is strong and affections vnrulie yea and hard it is to subdue and resist thy nature so corrupt and leauened with the sowre bitternesse of the poison which thou receiuedst by thé inheritance of thine old father Adam but yet neuerthelesse be of good cheere for Christ thy Sauiour hath ouercome the world and all other enimies for thee Sin shall not haue power ouer thee for thou art now vnder grace though thy power be weake yet Christ is risen againe to strengthen thee in the battell his holie spirit shall helpe thine infirmities In full trust therefore of this confidence O my soule take a good hart vnto thee I saie be of a good courage in the Lord and put vpon thee all the holie armour of God that thou maist stand fast against the enimies which would againe assault and subdue thee and bring thee againe into their thraldome slauerie and bondage
endeuour our selues so to liue as though euerie houre should be vnto vs the last houre and by that meanes we shall not be vnreadie how suddenlie soeuer death shall steale vpon vs nor yet shall we feare his cōming Furthermore let vs thinke what shall become of our wretched bodies and vile carcases which we haue sought by all meanes to pamper whose ease wee haue so much procured which we haue so delicatelie nourished which we haue so finelie araied whose vaine pleasures we haue so much followed doubtlesse it shall then become an abhominable stinking carion from which those which be now our most deerest friends shall be forced to turne awaie their heads stopping of their noses for the verie noisomnesse of the corrupt sauour and euill stinch thereof Let vs also consider what shall then auaile vs for our possessions and riches which we haue sought for so busilie and so greedilie to heape togither We must then leaue behind vs and of them shall carie awaie nothing with vs sauing a heauie burden of conscience of such part of them which we doo vnlawfullie possesse wrongfullie withhold or else haue euill gotten Let vs then weigh what shall become of our soule when it shall leaue the bodie to rot in the earth and it selfe shall be called into iudgement before the high Iudge where it shall be forced to make a streight account of all works words and thoughts Where it shall be able to conceale nothing but the verie secrets of all our dooings shall then be made open and that which here we be ashamed to confesse shall then be manifest and the booke shall be opened in which all our deeds and thoughts shall be rehearsed before the whole companie of heauen and then shall be said to euerie one of vs Behold this man and his works then shall our conscience accuse vs all our euill deeds as witnesses shall come in against vs. The diuell shall be there readie to drawe vs with him into eternall perdition and with the terriblenesse of his countenance shall put vs in horrible feare Then shall we tremble and quake and desire to haue respite for the amendement of our former wicked life and to repent vs of our sinfull liuing but then in no wise it may bee granted vs for asmuch as then mercie must giue place to iustice Let vs now therefore while God doth lend vs time repent in time which if we doo vnfeinedlie then may we assure our selues to receiue mercie and forgiuenesse of God for asmuch as he willeth not the death of a sinner but rather that he should conuert and liue Then let vs also weigh with our selues what a noble thing our soule is how greeuous hir wounds were for the curing of the which our Sauiour Christ was of necessitie wounded Yea if those had not beene vnto death and that death eternall the sonne of God should neuer haue suffered Shall we then lightlie esteeme of the losse of the soule vnto whom we may perceiue so much compassion to be shewed of so great a Maiestie Then sith he hath shed his teares for vs let vs likewise nightlie wash our beds with cōpunction of hart and continuall teares for verie heauinesse that wee haue so greeuouslie offended so louing a Maister And sith he hath shed his pretious bloud for vs shed we ours also in a sort that is to saie with dailie affliction and mortifieng of our bodies And let vs not haue regard what the flesh desireth but what is most conuenient for our soules health For then shall our soules be glorious when they shall returne to our Lord God by true repentance and penitence Let vs then call to remembrance the louers of this world that were here among vs not long agone what is now become of them and that nothing remaineth of them but dust and woormes They haue beene men as we are they solicited and vsed all kind of mirth they banketed they were gorgiouslie apparelled they were verie pleasant and led their daies in all worldlie delights but suddenlie and as it were in the midst of their iolitie death arested them caried them downe into hell Here the flesh of them is appointed to feede the woormes and there their soules be euermore tormented in the vnquenchable flame of hell fire where now they find no profit of all those fleshlie pleasures worldlie reioicings and euill concupiscence And for so short and vaine pleasures what continuall torment and miserie doo they now endure where they neuer see light neuer receiue ease of their paine nor comfort of their heauinesse where the fire continuallie burneth them and yet neuer consumeth them nor by his long burning leeseth anie part of his heate Where the woorms doo gnawe their conscience where the diuels which are their tormentors waxe neuer wearie in tormenting of them or take anie pitie on them nor will be intreated to mitigate anie part of their torment Where nothing shall be heard but weeping lamentation groning and wofull criengs Where they shall sauour and smell nothing but horrible stinch and corrupt aire Where they shall see nothing but the monstrous shape of the horible tormentors the diuels Wherefore let vs now aduise our selues whether in folowing of the vaine worldlie pleasures we will giue our soules in like sort to be eternallie tormented or else in refusing them for the little times of paines we shall here suffer to reioice with Christ and to be blessed Saints in heauen for euer For whilest we are here in this world God dooth set before vs both fire and water that is to saie saluation and damnation that vnto which we will we may stretch our hands Let vs lastlie consider what comfort it is and shall be to all saued soules to see God and the brightnesse of his face to liue with God to possesse God which is high and perfect goodnesse and where the perfect goodnesse is there is the highest and most perfect felicitie there is the chiefe and perfect charitie eternall suretie and sure eternitie true gladnesse full knowledge all beautie all blisse In this sort shall the man be blessed with God in whose conscience shall be found no sinne he shall see God after his owne desire he shall possesse to pleasure and enioie to gladnesse he shall flourish in eternitie he shall shine in veritie he shall ioie in righteousnesse and as he shall haue eternitie of continuance so he shall haue facilitie of knowledge and felicitie of rest He shall be delighted in God whose countenance is amiable whose face is beautifull whose speech is pleasant He is delectable to behold sweet to possesse pleasant to enioie In him vnderstanding is made cleere affection is purified that we may loue and knowe him as he is so that then wee shall not need to seeke anie thing besides him For the whole is found in him so much as is to be desired or may possiblie reioice or delight vs. Let vs to conclude finallie thinke what madnesse doth then possesse vs so
the end that man alone should wholie be subiect vnto thee And to the end that man should be wholie thine thou hast made man lord of all thy works For thou hast created all outward things for his bodie his bodie for his soule and his soule for thee that he might serue thee onlie and loue thee onlie possessing thee to his comfort and all inferiour things for his seruants For whatsoeuer is conteined vnder the cope of heauen is inferiour vnto mans soule which was made to inherit the souereigne goodnesse aboue and to become happie by possessing it wherevnto if he sticke fast he shall surmount the need of all the inferiour things which are changeable and in euerlasting immortalitie quietlie behold the souereigne maiestie whereof he representeth the image Then shall he enioie those excellent good things in the Lords house in comparison whereof all the things that we see are counted as nothing Those be the things which no eie hath seene nor eare hard nor hart of man conceiued which God hath prepared for them that loue him And trulie Lord these things wilt thou giue vnto my soule with these dooest thou which louest mens soules dailie glad the harts of thy seruants But why woonder I at these things my Lord God Thou inhonourest thine owne image and thine owne likenesse wherevnto they were created For to the end our bodie though it be yet corruptible base might see thou hast giuen vs the light of the skie by the hand of thine vnweariable seruants the Sunne and Moone who according to thy commandement doo continuall seruice daie and night to thy children To the intent it might breath thou hast granted vs the pure aire To the intent it might heare thou hast giuen vs the diuersitie of sounds To the intent it might smell thou hast giuen vs the sweetnesse of sents To the intent it might taste thou hast giuen vs the qualities of sauours To the end it might feele thou hast giuen vs the substances of all bodilie things To helpe vs in our necessities thou hast giuen vs bearing beasts To refresh vs withall thou hast bestowed vpon vs the fowles of the aire and the fishes of the sea and the fruits of the earth For euerie sore maladie and disease of ours thou hast created medicine salue and plaister out of the earth And for euerie seuerall euill thou hast prepared a seuerall remedie to encounter it because thou art mercifull and full of compassion and thou our potter knowest of what mettall we be made and how that all of vs are claie in thy hand O holie Lord God our good maker by these least things we comprehend the great things and by these visible things we comprehend thine inuisible things For if thou send so great and so innumerable benefits vnto me for this base and corruptible bodie of mine from the skie and the aire from the land and the sea from light and darkenesse from heate and shadowe from dew and raine from wind and showers from fowles and fishes from beasts and trees by diuersitie of herbes and things that growe vpon the earth and by the seruice of all thy creatures seruing our turnes by course in their seasons to ease vs of our wearinesse how excellent I praie thee and how great innumerable shall those good things be which thou hast prepared for them that loue thee in that heauenlie Realme where we shall see thee face to face If thou doo so much for vs in prison what wilt thou doo in thy pallace Great and innumerable are thy works O Lord thou King of heauen and earth For sith that all these things be exceeding good pleasant which thou hast deliuered to good men bad men togither in common what maner of things shall those be which thou hast laid vp in store for good men onlie If the gifts be so sundrie and so innumerable which thou dealest now as well to thy foes as thy friends how great innumerable how sweet delightfull shall those be which thou wilt deale onlie to thy friends If thou giue so great solace in this time of mourning how great ioies wilt thou giue in the daie of wedding If our prison conteine so manie delectable things how much more delectable things conteineth our fathers house O God no eie without thee hath seene the things that thou hast prepared for them that loue thee For according to the manifoldnesse of thy mightie works so also is the great aboundance of thy sweetnesse which thou keepest in store for them that loue thee For great art thou O Lord our God yea vnmeasurable art thou and there is no end of thy greatnesse nor number of thy wisedome nor measure of thy mercie neither is there end number or measure of thy bountifulnesse But like as thou thy selfe art great so are thy rewards great for thou thy selfe art both the price and the reward of all thy lawfull combators To thee therefore be all honour glorie and praise for euer Amen A meditation of Gods power beautie and goodnesse BIcause thou Lord wouldest haue vs to loue thee not one lie doost thou will intise allure and prouoke vs but also doost command vs so to doo promising thy selfe vnto such as loue thee and threatening vs with dainnation if we doo otherwise Whereby we may see both our great corruption and naughtinesse and also thine exceeding great mercie toward vs. First concerning our corruption and naughtinesse what a thing is it that power riches authoritie beutie goodnesse liberalitie truth iustice which all thou art good Lord can not mooue vs to loue thee Whatsoeuer things we see faire good wise mightie are but euen sparks of thy power beautie goodnesse wisdome which thou art For to the end thou mightest declare thy riches beautie power wisdome goodnes c. Thou hast not onelie made but still dooest conserue all creatures to be as Dauid saith of the heauens declarers and setters foorth of thy glorie and as a booke to teach vs to knowe thee How faire thou art the beautie of the sunne moone stars light flowers riuers feelds hils biros beasts men and all creatures yea the goodlie scape forme of the whole world dooth declare How mightie thou art we are taught by the creation of the world euen of naught by gouerning the same by punishing the wicked mightie Giants thereof by ouerthrowing their deuises by repressing the rages of the sea and keeping it within hir bounds by stormes by tempests by fires These and such like declare vnto vs thine inuisible almightie and terrible power whereby thou subduest all things vnto thee How rich thou art this world thy great and infinite treasure-house dooth well declare What plentie is there not onelie of things but also of euerie kind of things Yea how doost thou yeerelie and dailie multiplie these kinds How manie seeds doost thou make of one seed Yea what a great increase doost thou bring it vnto These can not but put vs in remembrance of the
by thine owne name and sealed me with thy blood that the remembrance of thee should be euermore with me and that he should neuer depart from my hart who for my sake shunned not the crosse Thou hast annointed me with the oile wherewith thou thy selfe wert annointed that I might be called a Christian after thy name Christ Behold thou hast registred me vpon thine hands to the end that the remembrance of mee might be alwaies present with thee yet notwithstanding so as if the remembrance of thee be alwaies present with me Thus then haue thy loue thy grace and mercie alwaies preuented me For thou hast oftentimes deliuered me from manie and great perils O my deliuerer When I went astraie thou broughtest mee backe againe when I was ignorant thou taughtest mee when I sinned thou diddest chastise me when I haue beene in heauines thou hast cheered me when I haue beene in despaire thou hast recomforted me when I haue beene fallen thou hast lifted me vp when I haue stood thou hast vpholden me when I haue gone thou hast guided me when I haue come thou hast receiued me when I haue slept thou hast watched me and when I haue cried vnto thee thou hast heard me O Lord where shall I haue words to vtter the signes of thy singular loue toward me considering thine innumerable benefits wherin thou hast brought me vp from the beginning Namelie euen from the benefit of the creation when at the first beginning thou madest me of nothing after thine owne image in honouring and aduancing me among the creatures which thou madest and innobling me with the light of thy countenance which thou imprintedst vpon the lampe of my hart thereby disseuering me as well from sensible as from senselesse creatures and abasing mee but little beneath the Angels And yet was all this but a small matter in the sight of thy Godhead For without ceassng thou hast dailie nourished this vnprofitable woorme which stinketh with sinne with all the singular and exceeding great store of thy good gifts and benefits and thou hast as it were suckled and strengthened me thy little tender babe with the teates of thy comfort For to the intent that I should wholie serue thee thou hast appointed all thy creatures to serue me These and manie other good turnes hast thou done vnto me O Lord my God the life of my soule for all which I render vnto thee againe most humble and hartie thanks-giuing beseeching thee O Lord that it may be a pleasure to me wretch that I am to be alwaies talking of them alwaies thinking vpon them and alwaies giuing thee thanks for them O my God shew me I saie how much I am bound to loue thee make it appeare to me how much I ought to please thee Open me the doore of thy light that I may enter in and both knowe acknowledge vnto thee with my whole hart that thy mercie is great toward mee and that thou hast deliuered my hart from the bottome of hell so as I might euer praise thee for all thy good gifts and loue thee with all my hart and with all my soule and with all my mind and with all my strength yea and that with the verie bowels and intrailes of my hart and of all my sinewes O Lord my God the blessed sweetnesse of all that delight in thee whose name is woonderfull and praise woorthie through heauen and earth So be it Another forme of thanks-giuing vnto God for all his benefits and praier for grace to confirme and increase the same O Most highest almightie and eternall God whose glorie replenisheth heauen and earth If thy holie and celestiall powers doo neuer cease in lauding thy most holie Maiestie how should we cease earthlie and lowlie seruants which are redeemed with the pretious bloud of thy onelie sonne And for as much as thy louing kindnesse and fauour in especiallie worketh towards vs we also ought continuallie to giue thanks for thy great goodnesse but haue mercie O mercifull father For the necessitie of this life dooth not suffer vs to thanke thee continuallie Wherefore though not continuallie as I ought I worship thee my maker with trembling feare I giue thee thanks for all thy benefits that when I was nothing thou madest mee gauest me a liuing soule quickened with thy holie spirit formed mee with thine owne image that it might be able to receiue thee which art the high God By thy prouidence thou hast brought me to those things that are expedient for me giuen to me knowledge and true faith in thee and planted a godlie mind in me and instructed me in the mysteries of thy holie word Sacraments But oh Lord how dare I recite thy benefits by number seeing thy louing kindnesse is an vnsearchable bottomlesse sea and an innumerable For I can not so soone giue thanks for thy benefits shewed of old as new haue euen ouerwhelmed me Oh Lord how great a benefit is this that I may to thee giue thanks For what fellowship hath vnrighteousnesse with righteousnesse What partaking darkenesse with light What agreement filthinesse with puritie Follie with wisedome Mortalitie with thee that art immortall Oh my vilenesse Oh thy goodnesse Yea though the spirit were readie yet is the flesh fraile but thou O Lord if thou wilt canst make me strong And so O most mercifull father vouchsafe that I may euer giue thanks and laud to thee For what good gift did I euer desire of thee but thou first willedst it to me Who better knoweth what is good for me than thou And because I need a mediator accept thine innocent Sonne Iesus Christ with his crosse and passion bloud-shed death and resurrection for me I haue not this deserued but thou father of thy mercie and truth hast by the same thy deerelie beloued Sonne promised and giuen vs thy mercie and fauour Open therefore O my mercifull Father for this thy deerelie beloued Sonnes sake euen this daie thy woonted hand of mercie and fulfill my mind and hart with a good will and let thy right hand defend me And if my sinnes which I acknowledge to be great and innumerable therefore I repent and am hartilie sorie doo let thy goodnesse O father wipe them awaie for this is thy glorie to forgiue sinnes and therefore no flesh may reioice before thee for thou Lord onlie art pure and without sinne Haue mercie vpon me thy bondseruant and vppon all people and O father bring them vnto the knowledge of thee that art onlie God and of Iesus Christ whome thou hast sent the onlie sauiour and redeemer mediator and aduocate for vs and after this present life bring vs to eternall blisse and felicitie by the deere merits of thy Sonne Iesus Christ For thine is the power kingdome and glorie for euer Amen Another to the same effect HOnour and praise be giuen to thee O Lord God almightie most deere father of heauen for all thy mercies and louing kindnesse shewed vnto vs in that it hath
the whole spacious dominions of both Iles and the adiacent lands gouerned triumphantlie so as it is hard to find the man that more orderlie hath managed the charge of anie one houshold than the daughter of thy house with hir virginall hands hath weelded the weightie scepter of sundrie and mightie populous nations In hir time haue been seene the golden yeeres of the reigne of hir father Dauid and the peacefull kingdom of Salomon to haue been aduanced the earth not to haue denied hir fruitfulnesse the sea hir increase the clouds their drops the heauens their fairenesse the sunne his warmth the yeere hir goodnesse but the vallies stand thicke with corne the wildernesse crowned with gladnesse the furrowes watered the mountaines laugh sing the folds full of sheepe our sonnes and our daughters growe vp like to the polished corners of the Temple our yoong men see visions and our old men prophesie Ierusalem hir light shining vnto hir the glorie of the Lord risen vnto hir the Queene bringing hir honor vnto the Citie of Dauid and the nations walking in the light thereof Great is the honour that thou O Iehouah hast heaped vpon vs and honourable in foraigne regions is the worke that thou hast wrought by thy chosen yea and so much the more hath the brightnesse of this beautie beene powred abroade that whilest Egypt round about hath been darkened euen the whole world in a manner besides vs whome thou hast gathered into pastures of this Gosen and the thicke mists of errour haue blinded the eies of the earth the cloudie piller hath not departed from vs by the daie nor the firie flame by night Whilest other lands round about haue warred to the destruction of one another our Moses hath guided vs in peace Whilest other nations like Egypt round about hath been plagued by the destroier from the first borne sitting vpon the princes throne vnto the vassall and slaue grinding at the handmill our Moses hath not diminished of hir flocke Whilest the firme lands haue beene ouerwhelmed by the rage of the seas and waters our Iland hauing dwelt in peace hath sent hir ship into Ophir for gold and prepared hir nauie against the danger of the enimie Whilest Athalia hath murthered hir owne bloud our Ioas hath learned the lawe of the Lord of Iehoiada Whilest Achas consecrateth his owne sonne in the fire and Samaria eateth hir owne children on the walles our Eliza directeth the children of the Prophets in their offices Whilest Iezabel setteth vp Baal and embrueth Achab with the bloud of the Prophets and of Naboth our Elias gathereth the people of God to mount Carmel to behold the wonder of the fire of God lighting from heauen vpon the sacrifices and replenishing the harts with ioie and tongues with gifts of languages This is then so woorthie an instrument of thy goodnesse and expresse image of thy Maiestie the ample matter of this daies celebritie And now what doth thy people desire at thy hands but that first O Lord thou giue vs thankefull harts and make vs all the daies of our liues mindfull of this thy fatherlie and gratious bountifulnesse Then as presentlie the Queenes highnesse hath gloriouslie atchiued the trauell of full three and twentie yeares and now the annuall celebritie of our voluntarie sacrifice of praise and thanks-giuing therefore returneth so it may by thy benefit full often returne and not once or twice but yeare by yeare and yeare heaped vpon yeare we and our of-spring may behold this felicitie vntill we and she satisfied in aboundance the time drawe along which thou hast appointed for the veiling of hir crowne at the feet of thy sonne Iesus and the course of this earthlie pilgrimage ouerrun we and she at our determined seasons be taken to reigne in the euerlasting kingdome of thy glorie Againe where much is the mischiefe of man great and enormous the rage of Sathan subtill the practises of Antichrist euill our deserts lamentable the state of things whilest open colouring hideth priuie conspiring poisoned lips giue sugred words the breath of Cockatrices the embracings of Scorpions the roring of Bulles the ringing of Libels the raging of Rabsake the sword of Herod the destruction of Abbadon hath beene seene in our streets hath beene heard on our walles hath multiplied before the gates of our Cities that thou destroie vs not in the midst of the works of thy mercie to leaue vs headlesse and hopelesse and make vs a scorne and prouerbe to the enimie but rather to behold the number of the faithfull subiects in the dread of their soules and iust gealousie of their common interest bowing the knees of their harts for the long safetie of Queene Elizabeths sacred princelie person rather than in thy iust furie for auenging of our sinnes to suffer the diuell with the wicked to preuaile in the vniust zealousnesse of their preposterous vowes graceleslie swearing the death of thy Saincts and thine annointed Lastlie that what remaineth of the happie building of thy Church by the hands of thy deere daughter thou plentifullie powre of thy principall spirit vpon hir and rauish hir hart with the flame of the loue of thee and thy house with Moses to leade and with Ioshua to bring into the land of promise with Debora to fight the battell and with Iahel to knocke Sisera of Rome in the temples of his vsurped headship to his vtter destruction with Dauid to bring home the Arke and with Salomon to finish and consecrate to eternitie thy Temple amongst the people on the earth for the time to giue largelie hir fostermilke to Hierusalem in heauen at the time in the purenesse of hir virginitie to be presented to the lambe and sing the song of hir wedding daie with thy Angels thy Saincts to the praise of thy glorious Maiestie the Father the Sonne and the holie Ghost in one eternall Deitie for euer and euer Amen Another godlie and learned praier for our most gratious souereigne Ladie Queene Elizabeth O Almightie eternall God creator gouernor preseruer of all things Lord of all lords and King of all kings who madest man like vnto thine owne image that he should honour serue and obeie thee onlie and that all other thy creatures should serue to his vse and commoditie ouer whome thou madest him lord and ruler the forbidden fruit onlie except but he most miserable man by his owne disobedience in eating thereof lost not onlie that kinglie prerogatiue but brought himselfe and all his posteritie into the state of eternall damnation Yet thou O Lord in thine vnspeakable mercie didst then promise and in time broughtest to passe that thine onlie Sonne became man like vnto vs sin except and was borne of a pure virgin by thy diuine prouidence and power who to restore this now most miserable man with all vs whose children by nature we are vnto the state of eternall saluation did suffer most shamefull most vile and bitter yea most cruell and painefull death on the
with hir Who so leadeth a godlie life men of good conscience let such be hir seruants Let no deceitfull person haue anie place in hir house him that telleth lies or is a reuenger of bloud cause hir speedilie to cast out of hir sight Finallie grant hir will and power O Lord of hosts dailie to suppresse all the vngodlie in the land that she may root out from the citie of God all wicked dooers Queene Elizabeth hath done that is lawfull right wherefore O Lord leaue hir not to such as doo offer hir wrong For thine owne goodnesse sake take hir thine handmaid vnto thy protection let not the proud oppresse hir with wrong Deale with thine handmaid according to thy louing kindnesse and teach hir thy statutes She is thy seruant grant hir vnderstanding that she may knowe thy testimonies Thy testimonies conteine woonderous things therefore cause hir hart to be zealous in keeping of them The first entrance of thy words will illuminate giuing vnderstanding euen vnto the simple Worke in hir hart so feruent desire of thy word that through affection thereto she may be like one that panteth openeth his mouth for breath Looke thou vpon hir O Lord and be mercifull vnto hir as thou vsest to doo vnto them that loue thy name Direct hir steps in thy word and so let no wickednesse haue dominion ouer hir Redeeme hir from the fraudulent dealings of men and cause hir to keepe thy commandements Make the light of thy countenance shine vpon our Queene Elizabeth thine handmaiden and teach hir thy statutes Heare my praiers O God and giue good eare vnto mine intercessions For behold from the ends of the earth I call vnto thee for our deere Souereigne Ladie Queene Elizabeth whensoeuer hir hart is in heauines oh set hir vp vpon the rocke that is higher than she For hitherto thou hast beene hir defence and a strong tower for hir against the face of the enimie Let hir dwell I beseech thee in thy tabernacle for euer let hir trust be vnder the couering of thy wings For thou O Lord heardst hir desires and hast giuen hir an heritage ouer those that feare thy name O grant vnto the Queene a long life that hir yeeres may endure manie generations Let hir dwell before the Lord for euer O appoint thy louing mercie and truth that they may preserue hir so cause hir alwaies to sing praise vnto thy name that she may daie by daie performe hir vowes and keepe thy heasts Finallie giue thy iudgment O Lord vnto hir Grace and thy righteousnesse vnto hir Counsell that they may iudge the people with iustice and the poore with equitie Let the mountaines bring peace and the little hils righteousnes vnto the people Let them iudge the afflicted among the people and saue the sonnes of the poore make them to destroie the backe-slider that he persist not to afflict the miserable and such as trust in thy mercie and protection so shall quietnesse and peace abound among vs like the hillocks on the earth Cause hir enimies to feare hir so long as the sunne and moone shineth from one generation to another Water hir with thy grace from heauen as thou didst Gedeons fleece of wool with dew and as thou refreshest with drops of raine the new cut grasse vpon the earth In hir daies let the righteous flourish and great abundance of peace so long as the moone is in the firmament Defend the dominions that thou hast giuen hir within the seas and from the floud vnto the end of the earth Cause hir foes to kneele downe before hir and hir enimies to licke the dust of hir feete Giue hir a long and prosperous reigne indue hir with abundance of riches and wealth heape glorie and honour vpon hir head and let hir be partaker alwaies of the praiers of the iust and be dailie blessed The Lord euen the God of Israel which onelie worketh woonderous things blesse our gratious Queene Elizabeth and blessed be the name of his Maiestie for euer yea let all the earth be filled with his glorious praise Amen And she shall magnifie thee O Lord hir King and she shall praise thy name for euer Euerie daie let hir giue thanks vnto thee O Lord and praise thy name for euer and euer Grant this O most mercifull Father for thy deere sonne our Sauiour Iesus Christs sake Amen Amen Another praier for the Queenes most excellent Maiestie WOnderfull O most excellent and almightie GOD is the depth of thy iudgements Thou King of kings Lord of lords thou which at thy pleasure doost take awaie and transpose roote out and plant confound and establish kingdoms Thou of thy singular goodnesse hast deliuered our gratious Souereigne Queene Elizabeth thy chosen Handmaid when she was almost at deaths dore yea thou hast deliuered hir out of prison and setled hir in hir fathers throne to thee therefore doo we render thanks to thee doo we sing laud and praise thy name doo we honour daie and night Thou hast restored againe the libertie of our countrie and the sinceritie of the doctrine with peace and tranquillitie of thy Church Thine thine O Lord was the benefit the meanes the labour and seruice was hirs a burthen too heauie alas for a womans shoulders yet easie and tollerable by thy helping hand Assist hir therefore O most mercifull father neither respect hir offences or the deserts of hir parents or the manifold sinnes of vs hir people but thinke vpon thy woonted compassion alwaies at hand to thy poore afflicted Preserue hir kingdome mainteine religion defend thy cause our Queene Elizabeth vs thy sheepe and hir people scatter thine enimies which thirst after war let them be ashamed and confounded that woorship idols let vs not be a praie vnto forraigne nations nor to the people that knowe not thee neither call vpon thy name Strengthen and confirme O Lord the good worke which thou hast begun inspire our gratious Queene thy seruant and vs thy poore flocke with thy holie spirit that with vncorrupt life we may ioine puritie of religion as we may not yeeld and bring foorth wild and bastard fruits but mild and sweet grapes and fruits beseeming a liuelie faith and true repentance and meet and conuenient for thy Gospell to the intent we may enioie this immortall treasure and that liuing and dieng in thee we may finallie possesse the inheritance of thy heauenlie kingdome through Iesus Christ our Lord. For thine is the kingdome the power and the glorie for euer Amen A forme of blessing or praier for our most gratious Queene Elizabeth Christ his deere spouse out of the Scriptures COme downe O Lord come with thousands of thy Saincts and appeare gratiouslie vnto thy Church of Saincts Come visit the people and congregations of Iacob whersoeuer assembled whome thou so tenderlie louest and which are humbled at thy feet to yeeld thee thanks for all thy blessings and benefits receiued Come downe I saie O God of Iacob and blesse Israel yea come
of the hils of the world they shall all be blessings vpon the head of Elizabeth and on the top of the head of hir that is separate from hir birth and consecrated from the wombe to dignitie and honour far aboue hir felowe virgins and made the annointed of the Lord to beare rule and to haue dominion ouer men Euen as the morning light when the sunne riseth gloriouslie without clouds in the faire morning so she being iust and ruling in the feare of God let hir house growe and be with thee O God that it may continue perfect in all points sure and euerlasting according to thy couenant and promise made to hir father Dauid and not as the grasse of the earth is by the bright raine which groweth quicklie and fadeth sooner Hir beautie and glorie let it be like the first borne bullocke and hir strength as the Unicorne with the horne of hir power let hir smite the people togither euen the ten thousands of Ephraim and the ten thousands of Manasses Blesse hir in hir going out and comming in and prosper hir at home and abroad in all hir affaires by land and by sea Make hir glad ioifull and willing to call thy people vnto the holie hill of Zion and there in thy Church to offer with them togither the offerings of righteousnesse that she and they may sucke of the abundance of the sea and of the treasures hid in the earth Blesse hir O Lord that she may dwell as a Lion that catcheth for a praie the arme with the head and be most victorious ouer hir enimies that hate hir and despise thee Blesse hir with thy graces that she may looke well to hir selfe as in the beginning when she was a portion of thee the lawe-giuer hid and reserued for vs thy people that she may now come with the heads of the people and execute the righteousnesse of the Lord and his iudgements with Israel A lions whelpe let hir be to leape from Basan and make hir strong inough to defend hir selfe from Balaks curse and against all the treasons of Zimri and Achitophel O satisfie hir with thy fauour and fill hir with thy blessings let hir possesse both the east west south and north parts of the earth Blesse hir with people and make hir acceptable vnto hir brethren and sisters and to dip hir feet in oile Hir shoes let them be iron and brasse and hir glorie health wealth and strength continue as long as the sunne Who is like thee O God of Israel which though thou sit vpon the heauens and ridest vpon them as vpon an horse yet art thou hir helper Sauiour whose glorie is in the clouds and celestiall places The eternall God be still hir refuge and vnder the armes of the euerlasting God let hir liue for euer hee shall cast out the enimie before hir face and shall command hir to destroie them That then Israel as euen now at this present may still dwell alone in safetie and the fountaine of Iacob be plentifull in issue in the land of wheate and wine and the heauens drop the dew of thy blessing plentifullie vpon hir and hir countrie Happie and blessed art thou O Israel that hast such a Queene Who is like vnto thee O people saued by the Lord which is the shield of thy helpe and sword of thy glorie Therefore thine enimies haue lost their strength to thee ward be subiected to thee and thou shalt tread vpon their high places Blesse hir still O Lord and giue power vnto thy Queene that she may be strong to keepe the feet of thy Saints within the wals of thy Church and to cause the wicked for euer to keepe silence in darknes Amen Amen A praier to be said mentallie or alowd of all true harted English men and women for the Queenes Maiestie when she rideth by them at anie time GOd saue your roiall Maiestie The GOD of gods preserue your noble Grace Good lucke haue you with your honor O you the fairest among women Ride on O Queene according to the great worship and high renowme wherewith the King of kings hath innobled you bicause of the word of truth of meekenesse and righteousnesse which you professe so shall your right hand teach you terrible things The Lord himselfe be your keeper and preserue you from all euill The Lord of heauen and earth be your defence on your right hand and on the left The Lord preserue your going out and your comming in from this time foorth for euermore so that the sunne shall not burne you by daie neither the moone by night The King of kings haue pleasure in your beautie and make you his daughter his spouse and virgin most glorious within The most mightie Iehoua establish you in his seate of iudgement euen in the throne of your father Dauid that you may become an old mother in Israel Peace prosperitie be vnto them that loue your honour but horror of conscience and confusion of face be vnto all those that hate you for your indurable gifts of Gods graces all people doo highlie praise you and for your zeale to Zion all the world doth honour you therefore for Zions sake also we wish you all maner of prosperitie yea bicause of the house of the Lord which you haue reformed and his religion which your Grace hath restored we will continuallie triumph in his mercie and praie still for the renowme of your most roiall name and Maiestie that your fame may more more be vniuersallie spred ouer the earth and be remembred from one generation to another For the Gospels sake I say which your Maiestie doth maintaine we will vncessantly praise God for you and with lowd voices crie and say God saue our most gratious Queene Elizabeth Iesu blesse your Highnesse The holie Ghost from heauen comfort conduct your Maiestie in all your wais Blesse our souereigne Ladie O blessed Trinitie Heape glorie and honour vpon Elizabeth our Queene O glorious Deitie Blesse hir sacred Maiestie I saie O God frō this time foorth for euermore O King of heauen receiue our Queene receiue and imbrace this thy most glorious virgin and deere daughter accompanied with hir felowe virgins the princes daughters and honourable women into thy tuition and protection With ioie and gladnesse I saie let hir the liuelie image of thy princelie Maiestie be brought safe and vnhurt home againe vnto hir iuorie palaces and at the last enter into the Kings court hir fathers house where she may enioie a perpetuall crowne and euerlasting kingdome and reioice in thee hir God hir spouse and hir Sauiour for euer and euer so shall she and we hir people giue thanks vnto thee O Lord world without end Amen A compendious forme of praier for the whole estate of Christes Church necessarie to be vsed of all estates at time conuenient especiallie euerie Sabboth or Holidaie in the Euening by the Mother and Daughter and their familie A Psalme preparing the hart to
euill concupiscence inordinate desires wantonnes tendernes delicatenes idlenes dronkennes gluttonie slothfulnes distrust despaire ignorance weakenes wilfulnes idolatrie superstition hypocrisie heresie error sects variance strife wrath enuie slanders lieng swearing curssing vaine-glorie pride couetousnes theft deceit flatterie and whatsoeuer else O Lord fighteth or rebelleth against thy holie spirit And strengthen me so with thy might that I may not onlie drawe all these mine earthlie members and horrible vices before rehearsed vnder my feet but also fight continuallie against them subdue them so that they may all turne to the best for me as meet matter whereon I may exercise my faith powre foorth hartie praier and giue thee most hartie thanks for victorie Finallie worke in me thy blessing with all the fruits of the spirit righteousnes peace loue ioie in the holie Ghost long-suffering gentlenes goodnes faithfulnes meekenes temperance strength patience and such like Grant vs the remission of our sinnes righteousnes and life Restore in our minds thy lawe and begin such a new conformitie this new yeare in this our life and conuersation as may be perfect in the life to come Be thou our sauiour by thy power and merit that in our minds we may perceiue that thy Father is at peace with vs through thy death and find thee dwelling within vs to eternall life and happinesse Amen Halleluiah 4. On the Epiphanie or twelfe daie Of the apparition of Christ and the three Kings and their offerings to Christ The Preface GET thee vp beetimes and be bright O daughter Ierusalem For thy light commeth and the glorie of the Lord is risen vpon thee Lift vp thine eies looke round about thee For behold the Gentiles shall come to thy light and kings to the brightnesse that springeth foorth vpon thee The multitude of camels and dromedaries that bring the riches of the Gentiles shall couer thee all they of Saba Mada and Epha shall come bringing gold incense and shewing foorth the praise of the Lord. All these gather themselues and come to thee thy sonnes shall come vnto thee from farre and thy daughters shall gather themselues to thee on euerie side frō the east and from the west The isles also shall wait for me and speciallie the ships of Tharsis that they may bring thy sonnes and daughters from farre and their siluer and their gold with them vnto the name of the Lord thy God vnto the holie one of Israel that hath glorified thee Strangers shall build vp thy wals and their kings shall doo thee seruice yea kings princes and the host of the Gentils shall see and arise and worship thee For I haue made thee the light of the Gentiles that thou maist be my health vnto the end of the world Thou shalt suck the milke of the Gentils and kings brests shall feed thee kings I saie shall be thy nursing fathers and Queenes shall be thy nursing mothers And those shall come kneeling vnto thee that haue vexed thee and all they that despise thee shall fall at thy feet before thee with their faces flat vpon the earth and licke vp the dust of thy feet Yea euerie people and kingdome that serueth not thee shall perish and be destroied with vtter destruction and thou shalt knowe that I am the Lord the Sauiour and Redeemer euen the mightie one of Iacob and that whosoeuer putteth his trust in me shall not be confounded They that dwell in the wildernes I saie shall kneele before the Kings sonne his enimies shall licke the dust The king of Tharsis and of the isles shall giue presents the kings of Arabia Saba shall bring gifts All kings shall fall downe before him all nations shall doo him seruice He shall liue and vnto him shall be giuen the gold of Arabia Praier shall be made euer vnto him and dailie shall he be praised The Lord declared his saluation his righteousnesse hath he openlie shewed in the sight of the heathen All the world shall worship thee O God sing of thee and praise thy name most high The Lord is King the earth may be glad thereof yea the multitude of isles may reioice and bee glad thereof Bring therefore vnto the Lord O ye mightie bring presents and gifts vnto the Lord O ye kindreds and nations of the world Come I saie into his courts with praise and speake good of his name Ascribe vnto the Lord onelie the strength power kingdome and glorie worship God I saie O ye gods kings iudges and rulers of the earth worship him with an holie worship and giue him the honor due vnto his name O make his praises to be glorious in your liues and conuersation For he it is that hath exalted you and is himselfe exalted farre aboue all gods and his praise and glorie is aboue heauen and earth Halleluiah The Praier OEternall God Father of our Lord Iesus Christ which after a woonderfull maner reuealedst thy selfe at the baptisme of Christ standing in the water of Iordan at such time as thou diddest testifie of thy sonne and the holie Ghost appeared in the likenesse of a dooue gouerne vs by thine holie spirit that in true faith we may obeie thee kindle in our minds a true knowledge of thy benefits bring to passe that approching vnto thee in our praiers we may discerne thee the true God aboue all feined gods in mind turne our selues into that banke of the water into the companie of those godlie auditors and beholders before whom this noble appearing was made Speake vnto vs by thy sonne in the holie Ghost and turne vs vnto true obedience And as thou broughtest godlie auditors vnto the sight of Christ which taking our flesh vpon him became our mediatour and thou eternall Father spakest out of the cloud and the holie Ghost appeared in the likenes of a dooue so bring to passe that in this life we may depend vpon the benefit of thy soone which coupled our nature vnto his to make an eternall couenant with vs. Cause the heauens in like maner to be opened vnto vs that we may heare thy voice and thy spirit rest vpon vs. Worke in vs the beginning of eternall life vntill in thy visible presence we shall be hold thy diuinivntill in the heauens not darklie and in a cloud but face to face beeing made like thy sonne And as those Christian Magicians or Philosophers of Persia some remnants of the schoole of Daniel by the conduct and leading of a starre came from farre to see thee and gaue a notable testimonie of the birth of Christ Iesus our Sauiour so mainteine euermore for thine owne glorie sake some congregation which may set foorth and celebrate thy benefits Grant that that luckie starre the light of faith may rise vnto vs which seeketh thee in Bethlem in a manger in thy word reuealed in the ministerie that we wander not from the right waie neither seeke fained bywaies of humane opinions seruice Suffer not the lampe of thy light to be extinguished either
reuiled beaten scourged spit vpon and most miserablie handled Thou wentest through Ierusalem to the place of execution euen to the mount of Caluerie a great crosse to hang thee vp was laid vpon thy backe to beare and drawe as long as thou wast able Thy bodie was racked to be nailed to the tree Thy hands were bored through and thy feet also Nailes were put through them to fasten thee thereon Thou wast hanged betweene heauen and earth as one spued out of heauen and vomited out of the earth vnworthie of anie place The high Priests laughed thee to scorne The Elders blasphemed thee and said God had no care for thee The common people also laughed and cried Out vpon thee Thirst oppressed thee but vineger onlie and gall was giuen thee to drinke Heauen shined not on thee the Sunne gaue thee no light the earth was afraid to beare thee sathan euen then tempted thee and thine owne humane senses caused thee to crie out My God my God why hast thou forsaken me Oh wonderfull passions which thou sweet Iesus sufferedst for me and all mankind In them thou teachest me in them thou comfortest me for by them God is my father my sinnes are forgiuen me By them I should learne to feare God to loue God to hope in God to hate sinne to be patient to call vpon God and neuer to leaue him for anie temptations but with thee to crie Father into thy hands I commend my spirit Amen The praier wherein we confesse our selues to be the verie cause of all these Christ his passions WHat hast thou committed oh Lord that thou shouldest bee so iudged what hast thou offended that thou shouldest be so cruellie handled and ordered what was thy fault what was thine offence what was the cause of thy death what was the occasion of thy condemnation I Lord I am the cause of thy sorowe the fault is in me that thou wast killed for I haue deserued thy death I committed the offences that were aduenged vpon thee Oh maruellous kind of iudgement and vnspeakable disposition or ordering of mysteries The vniust man offendeth and the righteous is punished The guiltie doth euill and the innocent is beaten The euill doth trespasse and the good is condemned That which the euill man deserueth the same doth the good and iust suffer That which the seruant doth amisse the maister maketh amends That which man trespasseth God suffereth it Oh thou which art the Sonne of God how lowe did thine humilitie descend How greatlie did thy charitie euen as it were waxe hot and burne towards vs How far did thy pitie exceed Whither did thy benignitie and gentlenes growe and extend How far did thy loue stretch How far came thy compassion For I did wrongfullie and thou wast punished I committed the mischeeuous deeds and they were aduenged vpon thee I did the fault and thou submittedst thy selfe to the torments I was proud and thou wast humble and meeke I was swelled and puffed vp thou wast extenuate and appaired I was disobedient neuerthelesse thou being obedient barest the paines and punishments of disobedience I obeied and was as it were a seruant to all excesse and gluttonie and thou wast punished with scarsitie and lacke of food The tree did drawe me in my grandmother Eue vnto vnlawfull concupiscence and desires but perfect charitie led thee vnto punishment and to endure the torments vpon the crosse I presumed being forbidden but thou didst smart therefore I tooke my pleasure with delicatenesse thou wast vexed with the crosse I abound and haue plentie of all pleasures thou art all to torne with nailes I doo taste the pleasant sweetnes of the apple and thou the bitternes of gall Behold O king of glorie mine iniquitie and vngodlinesse and thy pitie and goodnes is manifest Behold mine vnrighteousnes and thy iustice is plainelie declared What thing O my God and my King shall I render vnto thee for all these things which thou hast bestowed vpon me For nothing can be found in the hart of man that may worthilie recompense such rewards Can mans wit excogitate or imagine anie thing that is woorthie to be compared vnto thy diuine mercie Neither is it the office of a creature to go about to recompense fullie and iustlie the aid helpe of a Creator There is trulie O Sonne of God in this thy maruellous dispensation and appointments some what in which my frailenesse may helpe a little if so be that my mind once pricked and stirred by thy visitation doo punish the flesh with the vices also and euill concupiscences thereof And this thing if thou wilt grant and giue me grace to doo then shall it begin as it were to suffer and susteine sorrowes and greefes because that thou also didst vouchsafe to die for my sinnes and so by the victorie of the inward man it shall be armed thou beeing a captaine for the externall and outward victorie forasmuch as the spirituall persecution once ouercome it shall not be afraid for thy sake to be obedient vnto the materiall sword and crosse of this world and so the slendernesse of my state and condition if it please thy goodnes shall be able according to the little power thereof to answer vnto the greatnes and excellencie of my Creator And this is y e heauenlie medicine O good Iesu this is as it were a preseruatiue of thy loue this I beseech thee by thine accustomed ancient mercies to powre into my wounds the fowle and filthie matter of the venemous contagion and infection once cast awaie which may refresh and restore me to my former puritie and cleanenesse that when I haue tasted of the pleasant sweetnes which is to abide in thee it may make me to despise and vtterlie set naught by the entisements of this world and to feare for thy sake none aduersities thereof and that I remembring thine euerlasting nobilitie excellencie may alwaies abhor and disdaine the troubles of this transitorie world And as thou O Lord wast crucified for me so I beseech thee crucifie me with thee that I may rise againe with thee to euerlasting life Thy flesh was crucified for me crucifie with thee O Christ the kingdome of the flesh which hath dominion in me that I may put off the old Adam and by newnesse of life may be transformed into thee the second Adam sinne infidelitie and the whole tyrannie of sathan being vanquished and ouercome Bring to passe O Lord that by thy crosse and painefull suffering thy yoke may be to me made light and thy burthen easie that willinglie and gladlie following thee I may come whether thou art gone that is to thy father most blessed and immortall from whome nothing shall afterwards be able to separate vs Amen I haue sinned I haue sinned my God my God haue mercie vpon me God forbid I should reioice in anie thing but in the crosse of our Lord Iesus Christ whereby the world is crucified vnto me and I vnto the world Galath 6. Another
his infancie was troubled with creeping and scrallings and was wrapt in cloathes after the manner of other children was vexed in his youth with labours made leane with waking and fastings wearied with iournieng afterward whipped and all to torne and rent with diuers kinds of punishments reckoned among the dead and when it was endued with the glorie of resurrection he carried it into the ioies of heauen and placed it vpon the right hand of thy Maiestie This I saie he is my manhood waie and meanes of pacifieng and appeasing thee the waie and meanes of hauing mercie vpon mee Mercifullie looke vpon mee heare the wretch whom he did redeeme and the bond-seruant whom he deliuered Behold him a Creator and doo not despise a creature Receiue the shepheard welcommed with a gentle and louing countenance and mercifullie looke vpon the sheepe which he hath brought home vpon his owne shoulders This is that most faithfull shepheard which by manie and diuers labours and trauels ouer steepe hils and through head-long and deepe vallies did search for his owne sheepe that was straied awaie which also when he had found it faint and almost dead through long wandring gat himselfe vnder it with great reioicing and making it fast vnto him with a maruellous bond of charitie lifted it vp out of the deapth of confusion and brought it home to the ninetie and nine Behold O King my king and God almightie behold a good shepheard which rendereth to thee that which thou committedst to his charge He tooke vpon him through thine ordinance to saue man whom he hath deliuered vnto thee cleane and pure from all spots through the washing in his bloud Lo thy most dearelie beloued Sonne hath reconciled vnto thee thy handie worke which was gone astraie far out of the waie Lo a gentle shepheard bringeth home againe to thy flocke hir that the violent pirate and robber had driuen awaie He hath brought vnto thy sight the seruant whome hir owne conscience had made to run awaie that she which by hir selfe had deserued punishment by thy Sonne being hir solicitor hath deserued forgiuenes vnto whome also for hir offences euerlasting fire was due neuerthelesse being a subiect vnder such a prince and captaine she doth hope to be brought home to hir owne countrie I was able O holie father by my selfe to offend thee but I was not able of my selfe to pacifie and appease thee Thy welbeloued Sonne O my God was made my helper by taking vpon him mine humanitie to the intent he might cure mine infirmitie that wherof the first occasion of thy wrath did spring of the same he might offer vp to thee a sacrifice of praise and that he might render and make me also well-pleasing to thy goodnes by that thing in the which he sitting now at thy right hand did alwaies shew and declare himselfe to be equall with my substance and as it were fellowe with the same Lo my hope behold in whome is all my trust If thou despise me as it were meete for mine iniquities yet looke vpon me at leastwise mercifulle for the charitie of thy welbeloued Sonne Giue heed to thy Sonne whereby thou maiest haue mercie vpon thy bond-seruant Looke vpon the sacrament of flesh and pardon the offences of flesh How often soeuer thou doest remember the wounds of thy blessed Son so oft I beséech thee let mine iniquitie be hid And bicause flesh hath stirred thee to wrath let flesh I beseech thee mooue thee to mercie that like as flesh hath seduced and led me to sinne so flesh may get and obteine for me remission For certainly it is much that mine iniquitie hath deserued but much more it is that the goodnes of my Redeemer may euen of right require Mine vnrighteousnes is great but his righteousnes is bigger For looke how much God is superiour vnto man euen so much is my malice euill inferiour vnto his goodnes both in qualitie and quantitie For what haue I sinned being a man that the Sonne of God being made man hath not redeemed What pride could be in me so exceeding high but such humilitie as was in him should bring it downe What power of death was there in me so great but the punishment which the Sonne of God suffered vpon the crosse might deface it and vtterlie destroie it Trulie my God if the sinnes of sinfull men or women should be weied in a iust and equall balance with the loue and fauour that was in our redeemer towards vs the East is not so far distant from the West nor the innermost part of the earth so much separated from the vppermost part of the heauen as they should be vnlike so much lesse should mine iniquitie be than is his goodnesse Now O most noble Creator of light now pardon mine offences for the vnmeasurable trauels paines that thy beloued Sonne did susteine Now I beseech thee let his goodnesse be set against my wickednes his modestie and temperance against mine vngratious frowardnes and his meekenes against my fierce crueltie Let his humilitie recompense my pride his patience mine impatience his gentlenesse mine vnkind churlishnes his obedience my disobedience his quietnesse mine vnquietnes his pleasant towardnes my bitter frowardnes his sweet facilitie and gentlenes mine angrie and fretting fumes to conclude let his charitie make amends for my heinous and detestable crueltie Amen I haue sinned I haue sinned my God my God haue mercie on me God forbid that I should reioice in anie thing but in the crosse of Christ whereby the world is crucified vnto me and I vnto the world So be it 9. On Easter daie Of Christ his resurrection and the Passouer of Christians The Preface CHrist is risen againe from the dead and now dieth no more Halleluiah Death from hencefoorth hath no more power of him Halleluiah Christ is risen againe the first fruits of them that sleepe Halleluiah By Christ all men that were dead in sinne are restored to life Halleluiah In thy resurrection O Christ both heauen earth doo reioice and saie Halleluiah Thanks be vnto God which giueth vs victorie thorough our Lord Iesus Christ Halleluiah Who hauing spoiled all principalities and powers hath made a shew of them openlie triumphing ouer them in his owne person Halleluiah Awake O my Christ awake vp my glorie and sing Halleluiah For Christ our passouer is offered vp and as this daie reuiued rose again for our iustification Halleluiah Let vs reioice therfore I saie O my soule and keepe it holidaie to the Lord. Halleluiah Not with old leauen of maliciousnes and wickednes but with the vnleauened bread of purenesse and truth Halleluiah That when we awake vp after his likenes we may be satisfied with his presence in righteousnes and glorie Halleluiah And be blessed and holie with those that haue part in the first resurrection and on whom the second death hath no power but sing Halleluiah O death where is thy sting O hell where is thy victorie Halleluiah This
is the daie which the Lord hath made we will reioice and be glad therein and euermore sing Halleluiah Halleluiah The Praier OF thy woonderfull victorie and resurrection from death and glorious kingdome O Sonne of God it was said In that daie the roote of Iesse shall stand to be a signe to the people vnto him shall the nations flie and his rest shall be glorie Thou art that blessed branch of Dauid thou tookest mans nature vpon thee and camest of the line of Dauid but in the time of thy humiliation thou wast but a sprig as it were in a drie ground a notable and heauenlie plant but oppressed with miseries Thy soule dried awaie being beaten with the mightie tempest of Gods displeasure against our sinnes notwithstanding that goodlie roote through the power of thy diuine nature was not vtterlie choaked Thou art deliuered from the midst of death and by thy diuine power thou standest victoriouslie ouer thine enimies and art readie to bring vs thy souldiers from all euils and make vs partakers of thy most glorious conquest in thy kingdome which is altogither otherwise than the triumph and glorie of this world Death endeth all the pride power and pompe of this world but thy death and rest is glorious thy kingdome and glorie beginneth when our life is ended O Christ Sonne of God how woonderfull was thy rest Man at the first was made to be a noble and holie Temple wherein a perpetuall Sabboth should be celebrated and a diuine nature should abide filling and comforting him with plentie of heauenlie riches But this rest was turned into vnquietnes and this ioie into sorowe through the hatred of sathan thine enimie which prophaned this temple and sabboth brought in an horrible misorder and wickednes Wherefore it pleased thine almightie Father of his goodnes to send thee his onlie Sonne from his owne bosome to restore againe this Sabboth Hence it was that after a woonderfull manner in the daie of the great Sabboth according to the lawe of Moses thine humane nature through death which separated the soule from the bodie rested in the sepulchre and the word which forsooke not that nature no not at the graue reuiued that flesh the third daie and so thou rosest againe when the time of our redemption was expired victoriouslie vnto thy kingdome and giuest an eternall Sabboth and rest to such as flie vnto thee O Sonne of God call thou sinners euen vs miserable and vncleane persons vnto that sacred feast which in this world through thee the cheefe Priest is begun and shall be then made perfect when the elect for euermore shall followe the Lambe whithersoeuer he go Put on vs the festiuall garment the garment of thy righteousnes and benediction that we putting awaie the leauen of malice and wickednes may celebrate the feast in the sweet bread of sinceritie serue thee in purenes of liuing and truth This yeare from thine incarnation 1582. are passed 3091 yeares since the first passouer which the Israelites did celebrate going out of Egypt so long hast thou preserued thy Church and we beseech thee preserue it euerlastinglie notwithstanding the rage of the diuell and his ministers And as thou defendedst thy people which eate of the Lambe and moreouer going through out Egypt slaiedst in thy righteous iudgements all the first borne in the land so assist vs that with a liuelie faith we may feed on thee the true Lamb. Keepe vs among all the miseries of this last age of the world The carcases remaining were cast awaie and condemned but thy oblation is gratefull in the sight of God it appeaseth the wrath of the eternall Father and by the eating of thee which art the Lamb of God taking awaie the sinnes of the world righteousnes and life is giuen to beleeuers The word raiseth againe and quickneth the flesh that vnto vs ingraffed therevnto by faith the like life may be giuen and the bodie of sinne mortified in vs and thou liue and reigne in vs for euermore wherefore let thy glorious rest be in vs. We are made of earth and after sinne our bodies were appointed to the earth yea the vngodlie shall abide for euer in the earth and neuer appeare in thy glorious heauen But after thou touchedst the death with thy liuelie flesh thou madest it light thou tookest awaie the heauinesse thereof Through the blast of the first serpent manie times euen mans flesh is turned into verie serpents And in the graue of the wicked more horrible is the filth of spirituall dragons and serpents which deuour them euerlastinglie and keepe them in perpetuall death But thou O Sonne of God makest the graues of thy saincts euen pleasant chambers as it were Thou driuest far awaie from thence all filthinesse of sathan Thou settest about them the watchmen euen thy pure Angels which bring their soules into paradise commending them into the hands and bosome of thy Father and keepe also their ashes which both were and shall be at thy returne the house of the holie ghost Beautifie vs in like manner with this thy glorie of true knowledge and calling vpon thee Be present with vs at the point of death receiue our soules at their departure into thine hands shew thou thy comfort ioie till at the resurrection of mankind thou crowne thine elect with perfect endlesse glorie a taste wherof might be seene in those fortie daies after thy resurrection Neuer was there so goodlie a world as that was when thou rosest from death and broughtest out of their graues a great companie of thy Saincts as the Scripture plainelie but breeflie for the vngodlie doth testifie Familiarlie did the holie fathers and matrones remaine with thy sweet mother and Apostles Pleasant speeches and much talke was made no doubt of the miseries of man of the vnspeakable benefits gotten by thee and of the glorie of eternall life O Lord raise thou vp our harts that with a true desire we may long to come into this faire companie Let vs turne our selues in cogitation vnto that holie assemblie Let vs hearken vnto and learne thy wisedome reuealed in thy word In this life thy Church is in darkenesse in miseries men are occupied in the obseruation of outward ceremonies as those godlie women they will annoint thy bodie Manie times thy Church seemeth to be depriued of thy sweet presence and vttereth these sorrowfull words They haue taken awaie my Lord and I can not tell where they haue laid him But O Sonne of God amend the mortall darkenesse within vs kindle in our soule thine inward seruice which pleaseth thee manifest thy selfe vnto vs in affliction speake these comfortable words in our calamitie vnto vs Weepe not that euen in death we may thinke with our selues that thou art present and after death rise againe to the fruition of eternall life with thy blessed Saincts Amen Another ALmightie God and most mercifull heauenlie Father who hast raised vp thy Sonne for our iustification as thou gauest him to
vnto thee we haue not here an abiding place for euer but we seeke for one that is to come our abiding place is in heauen whither thou art ascended Therefore thy fauour and grace my guide I enter into the chamber of my hart and sing vnto thee songs of loue my King and my GOD mourning with maruellous sighings in this place of my peregrination whereas thy iustices are my songs and whereas I am tossed with stormes on euerie side For in this great floud of this life there is no stedfast standing or place high inough aboue the waters no not for the foot of a doue to rest vpon In this life I saie there is no safe or quiet peace no where anie sure rest euerie-where battell and strife euerie-where enimies and fightings without doores and frights and feares within doores And for asmuch as the one part of vs is heauenlie and the other earthlie our bodie which is corrupt doth loden and is burdenous vnto the soule therefore my mind which is my felowe and freend being wearie with wandering foorth of the waie is sicke and lieth all to torne and rent of those things which it hath passed by It hungreth and thirsteth greatlie after vanities and I haue nothing to set afore it bicause I am poore and a begger Thou O Lord my God art rich in all good things and the most plentious giuer of the deinties of heauenlie satietie Giue meate vnto the wearie not such as it thirsteth after but such as is conuenient for it Gather togither the dispersed renew and refresh the torne Lo he standeth at the doore and knocketh I beseech thee by the bowels of thy mercie wherwith thou being the daie-spring from an high hast visited vs open the hand of thy pitie to a wretch that knocketh and vouchsafe mercifullie to enter into thee and that I may rest with thee and be refreshed of thee which art the liuing heauenlie bread wherewith when I am once fed and that my strength is come to mee againe I may ascend vnto more high things and be lifted vp out of this vale of miserie and teares and with the wings of my godlie desires I may flie vp vnto thee and the heauenlie kingdome Let my spirit O Lord I beseech thee take wings as an Egle and flie without fainting let it flie vp and come to the beautifulnesse of thine holie house and to the place of heauen where thy glorie dwelleth whereas vpon the meate-tables of thy supernall citizens it may be fed full of thy secrets in the place of thy pasture by the most plentifull riuers sides Let mine hart rest in thee my God my hart I saie which is as though it were a great sea swelling with waters Thou diddest rebuke the winds and the sea and there was made streightwaies a great calme O come and wake vpon the fluds of mine hart that all things which belong vnto me may be made calme and cleere that I may imbrace thee which art mine onelie God and that I may behold thee which art the sweet light nf mine eies without anie blind darknesse of troublesome cogitations and thought Let my mind flie O Lord vnder the shadowe of thy wings for meate that it being couered with the temperatenesse of thy pleasant coolnesse may sing ioifullie and saie I will laie me downe and rest in peace Finallie let my memorie sleepe O my God I beseech thee from all euils make it to hate iniquitie and to loue righteousnesse For what can be better or more delectable than in the middes of the darknesse of this life and among the manifold and bitter miseries of the same to desire feruentlie heauenlie sweetnesse To couet euerlasting blessednesse Or our mind to be held euer there whereas we may be most sure to haue infallible and true ioies Oh Lord which for thy louing kindnesse art most woorthie to be desired and coueted of all things when shall I see thee When shall I appeere before thy face When shall I be satisfied of thy glorie When wilt thou bring me foorth of this darke prison that I may confesse thy name so that afterward I bee no more pricked When shall I passe and go to that maruellous and beautifull house of thine whereas the voice of gladnesse and reioicing doth sound in the tabernacles of iust men Blessed are they that dwell in thine house O Lord they shall praise thee euer world without end Blessed are they yea blessed indeed whom thou hast chosen and taken into that heauenlie inheritance Behold O Lord thy Saints flourish before thee like vnto lillies For they are replenished with the plentiousnesse of thine house and thou dooest giue them to drinke of the flowing riuer of thy pleasure bicause thou art the well of life and in thy light and brightnes they doo see light and that so greatlie that they themselues which are a light and are made bright by thee O Lord which doost giue them light doo shine like vnto the sunne in thy sight O how maruellous how faire and beautifull how acceptable are the mansions and dwelling places of thine house O Lord of powers my sinfull soule dooth couet to enter into them O Lord I haue loued the comlinesse of thine house and the place where thine honour dwelleth I asked one petition of the Lord and the same will I require that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the daies of my life Like as the Hart coueteth to go vnto the water brookes euen so dooth my soule desire to come vnto thee O Lord. When shall I come and appeare before the face of my Lord When shall I see God after whom my soule longeth verie sore When shall I see him in the land of the liuing For in this land of the dead he cannot be seene with mortall eies What shall I doo wretch that I am which am fettered with the heauie gieues of mortalitie What shall I doo Whiles we continue in this bodie wee go astraie from the Lord we haue here no abiding place for euer but we labour for one that is to come Our free citie is in heauen Wo is me me thinke I dwell among the barbarous nations and infidels and not amongst the faithfull Israelites I lead my life in the tents of Cedar My soule hath dwelt too long with them that hate peace and quietnesse Who will giue me wings as a dooue that I may flie awaie and rest me There is nothing that I desire or delight so much in as to be in my Lords companie It is good for me to cleaue vnto God Oh grant me O Lord whilest I am in these fraile members to sticke vnto thee as it is written He that cleaueth vnto the Lord is all one spirit with him Giue me therefore I beseech thee the wings of contemplation wherewith when I am apparelled I may flie vpward And for asmuch as euerie vnluckie and infortunate thing lieth beneath doo thou O Lord hold vp my mind least it fall headlong into
excellent a gift and at no time be intangled in the snares of Sathan neither yet forgo so noble a ghest for our wickednes Make vs to walke circumspectlie not as fooles following our vaine concupiscence to shun all occasions of falling euermore to craue at thine hands that this pretious gift may from time to time continue with vs and increase And as vpon this daie thou hast taught the harts of thy people by the sending to them the light of thine holie spirit so grant vs by the same spirit to haue a right iudgment in all things and euermore to reioice in his holie comfort Let the same spirit bring into our memorie that which thou hast said make it firmelie to retaine the foundation of sound doctrine vttered from the bosome of the Father and at no time to seeke new reuelations as doo the Enthusian heretikes both without and beside the warrant of thy word Let vs neuer inuent fained gods and false worshippings but followe onelie and sincerelie that which thou hast said and taught The world followeth vaine pleasure seeketh prosperitie and hunteth after wealth and worship especiallie the last age of this world doth so it altogither doteth and is become secure but fill thou our harts with true peace wherewith we may staie our selues in the combate of conscience fighting before the iudgment of God And in our agonies when a separation shall be made both of soule and bodie then giue vs grace to be mindfull of this thy saieng Let not your harts be greeued I go and come againe vnto you Let not thy comfortable presence depart from our soule thou wilt certainlie come againe euen to raise vs from the dead to place vs in thy kingdome Wherfore we reioice at thy departure vnto thy Father For the Father is greater than thou Thou hast prepared a place and blessed mansion in the house of thy Father exalted to the right hand of the Father and hast respect of the person sent euen till the consummation of the world Cease not to applie the merits of thy sacrifice vnto vs make continuall intercession for vs. Thou abidest our King and Priest vntill thou deliuerest the kingdome to thy Father And therefore as a Mediator thou doost verelie obtaine those good things which thou hast promised to all beleeuers Thou valiantlie didst conquer Sathan to make vs parteners of thy victorie Thou willinglie gauest thy life that it might satisfie for manie Thou wast obedient to thine eternall Father in the race of thine humiliation that by thy death we might liue Wherefore seale within vs this faith and righteousnesse grant that continuallie we may retaine thy saiengs in our minds that we may enioie thy peace and keepe a place for thy diuinitie in our harts while we liue in this world through our first fruits and so hereafter in the life to come we shall attaine the tenths and be made like vnto thee beholding God face to face So be it Another meditation and thanks-giuing for the good effects that the holie Ghost worketh in vs by his comming AL possible praise and thanks I yeeld vnto thee O God heauenlie Father and vnto thy deere Sonne Iesus Christ my Sauiour for sending downe thy spirit of truth our comforter sanctifier and regenerator the holie Ghost into this world The which thing verelie I beleeue thou didst for this onelie end and purpose that bicause the grape of thy sonne our Sauiour Christs flesh was caried to the wine-presse of the Crosse and there being pressed yeelded foorth the sweet wine of his Godhead it pleased thee therefore of thy great mercie to send the same thy holie Ghost to make readie the vessels of mens harts that the new wine might be put into new vessels first to season their harts from marring of the wine that should be put into them and afterward to hoope them well for leaking when the wine was powred into them that is to saie to clense them from delighting in sinne and to bind them from delighting in vanitie For that which is good could not come in till that which is euill was first rid out Oh woonderfull worke Oh vnspeakable benefit of thy surpassing goodnesse and mercie most woorthie of all praise that man on earth or Angels in heauen may giue or render The holie name of thy sacred Maiestie be therefore blessed magnified and extolled for euer and euer Amen And now O gratious God and good Father I most humblie and intirelie beseech thee that for as much as delighting in wickednesse which is to loue sinne doth defile vs and make our vessels fowle yea leadeth to death and that the delighting in vanitie which is to be in loue with transitorie things of this world sheddeth out and maketh the vessell of our bodies full of crannies and rifts yea intiseth and deceiueth vs to our destruction it may please thee therefore of thine ancient and accustomed mercie and goodnesse to giue me grace to cast out the thing that is euill in me that I may be fit to take in and receiue the thing that is good in thee and so to powre out all sowernesse of sinne and wickednesse that I may be filled with the sweetnesse of all vertue and godlinesse Yea doo thou thy selfe O gratious Father euen with the same thy blessed finger and mightie power wherewith in times past by thy sonne Christ Jesus thou didst rebuke and throwe the diuels and vncleane spirits foorth of those that were possessed vouchsafe also I beseech thee of the same thy singular loue and pitie to cast out of me the fowle spirit of the diuell which worketh delight in wickednesse and is the occasion of faults yea so and in such sort to abandon him that he nor anie of his may euer returne into my vessell anie more to dwell therein I beseech thee furthermore to expell foorth of my vessell the spirit of this world which worketh delight in vanitie and is a fault of it selfe that I be neuer intised nor deceiued anie more therewith hereafter Finallie I humblie praie thee to throwe out of me all other euill and vncleane spirits whatsoeuer which are noisome enimies to my soule and saluation and grant that thy spirit O God euen the holie Ghost I meane with all the fruits gifts vertues and graces thereof may vouchsafe to come and enter into the tabernacle of mine hart and mind to worke in me good delights good loue whereby the loue of the world and the loue of sinne may bee vtterlie driuen awaie from me for euer and my mind be continuallie inlightened my conscience still clensed mine hart euer gladded and thou thy selfe my GOD my Sanctifier and Sauiour be more and more shewed and made manifest vnto me Amen A Thanks-giuing vnto God for our regeneration and sanctification not vnproper to be vsed also at publike Baptisme O God the holie Ghost which proceedest from the Father the Sonne and with them art woorshipped and glorified in the vnitie of the true and eternall Deitie and
enioie although heere they bee tormented prisoned burned solicited of Sathan tempted of the flesh and intangled with the world wherethrough they are inforced to crie Thy kingdome come Come Lord Iesu c. How amiable are thy tabernacles Like as the hart desireth the water brookes so longeth my soule after thee O God Now Lord let thy seruant depart in peace I desire to be dissolued and to be with Christ We moorne in our soules waiting for the deliuerance of our bodies c. Oh gratious Lord when shall I find such mercie with thee that I may repent beleeue hope and looke for these things with the full fruition of those heauenlie ioies which thou hast promised and prepared for all them that feare and loue thee and so rest with thee for euermore Amen 2. Peter 3 10 11 12. The daie of the Lord will come as a theefe in the night in the which the heauens shall passe awaie with a noise and the element shall melt with heate and the earth with the works that are therein shall be burnt vp Seeing therefore that all these things must be dissolued what manner persons ought yee to be in holie conuersation and good liues looking for the hastning vnto the comming of God by the which the heauens beeing on fire shall be dissolued and the elements shall melt with heate ¶ Other godlie Praiers to be vsed vpon euerie Saincts daie as they fall orderlie in the yeare And first 1. On Saint Andrewes daie My hart is readie O God my hart is readie prepared to séeke thée and to followe thy Lawe O let me not go wrong out of thy commandements WE thanke thee O Sonne of God head and keeper of thy Church for gathering to thy selfe out of the vncleane companie of men an holie Church which is knit to thee in true confession righteousnesse and life Manie times didst thou repeate thy promise touching the bringing of man fallen into thy fauour againe and by the continuall preaching of thy Ministers hast giuen vs the light thereof Thou didst in like manner appoint a tower and ordeine the Commonwealth of Moses in the middest of that part of the world inhabited from whence it might be heard of all mankinde At the length thou appearedst in the flesh brakest the bands of the old testament and entredst into a new couenant with vs and calledst thine holie Apostle Andrew and the rest to be the publishers and witnesses of thy truth and gauest them authoritie to preach and sufficient testimonie that they publish the truth Mainteine among vs this light that we may giue credit to thy Ministers and their writings as to a voice sounding from heauen that we may be citizens of that companie which is builded vpon the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles in which building thou art the corner stone bearing the whole house by the word of thy power Grant that imitating the examples of Saint Andrew and the rest of the holie Doctors and Apostles who by thy grace readilie obeied the calling of thy Sonne Iesus Christ and followed him without delaie we also being called by thy holie word may likewise foorthwith giue ouer our selues obedientlie to followe thee and thy holie commandements Of them it it is said They went foorth and sowed their seed with teares but they shall returne with ioie Giue also to thy Church in all ages for euermore faithfull and holie teachers which may be fishers of men reteine the forme of sound doctrine dispense thy mysteries faithfullie and gather to thy kingdome great companies till the number of thine elect being filled the net shall be cast off and thy whole Church enioie thy visible and blessed sight for euermore Amen 2. On Saint Thomas daie I beléeue O Lord helpe mine vnbeléefe and increase my faith LOthsome is the darkenesse and horrible the streames of diffidence and mistrust euen in the elect as the Apostle Thomas albeit he had sensiblie heard the voice of the Sonne of God seene the miracles which bare testimonie that he taught and preached the truth yea albeit in mind inwardlie he beheld the presence of his Lord yet beleeued he not the resurrection of Christ which is the principall article of our faith neither gaue he credit to such as had seene the Lord liuing againe which doubting thou didst suffer in him for the more confirmation of the faith But confirme thou vs as thou didst confirme this thy weake disciple Thomas and grant vs so perfectlie and without all doubt to beleeue in thy Sonne Iesus Christ that our faith in thy sight neuer be reproued Strengthen our frailtie by thy liuelie presence Appeare to vs in the night that humane darkenesse doo not extinguish the light in vs. Bring thy gifts into houses shut vp into our poore cottages which are in great danger by reason of thine enimies Speake thou vnto vs with thy blessed voice outwardlie by thy word and inwardlie by thy spirit working thy peace within vs that filled with the sense of thy presence we may rest coupled through thee in the spirit vnto thine eternall Father Take vs vp being fraile and fallen downe in this life Shew vs thy woonders that in the fight of our conscience with the displeasure of thine eternall Father we may remember thy merits Laie vs miserable and weake ones in thy side and wounds that we may be hid and couered from the wrath of God and sucke from thy bodie the water which washeth all our vncleannesse and the liuelie nourishment of thy bloud which may strengthen vs into euerlasting life that we be not vnbeleeuers but in the number of the faithfull and from our hart may imitate that noble confession of this thine Apostle Saint Thomas and against all the blasphemous spirits and thine enimies acknowledge that thou art the Lord and our God euen that God which from the beginning hath beene present with his Church both externallie by his Ministers and inwardlie by the secret working of his holie spirit which may euermore defend his Church against the rage of his enimies and by a couenant with mankind knitteth the faithfull to his owne flesh Grant O Sonne of God and mightie Iehoua that firmelie we may beleeue this thy promise depend vpon thee hope of thine aid against hope begin our saluation from thy word reuealed that beleeuing in thee our Sauiour which art Christ our high Priest King we may find eternall life in thee Amen 3. On Saint Steeuens daie VVho was the first that was martyred and shed his bloud for Christ crucified They gather themselues togither against the soule of the righteous and condemne the innocent bloud O Christ our Lord and sauiour which with greefe of hart didst bewaile the ingratitude of the Iewish nation which both vnkindlie contemned thy benefits killed thy Prophets most cruellie we beseech thee make vs euermore to haue in mind and acknowledge the greatnesse of thy loue towards mankinde Thou art that naturall hen Thou begettest to thy selfe a
congregation by the egge and singular seed of thy first promise made in Paradise Thou gatherest such as beleeue and depend thereon vnder thy wings by thine intercession against the wrath of God which is a consuming fire and by thy liuelie heate thou nonrishest them powring vpon them thy spirit which is a substantiall fire flowing from the brest both of thee and thine eternall Father expelleth the coldnesse of our nature and quickneth such as are ingraffed in thee vnto a new life Thou encounterest with Kites rauening birds raging spirits and all the mortall infernall enimies for the safegard of thy poore chickens Wherefore keepe vs we humblie praie thee among thy chickens which with a woonderfull and entire affection acknowledge thy voice when thou callest which couer themselues vnder thy wings and drawe from thy brest most godlie comfort in their greefe of hart and strength against all enimies And O comfortable ghest of the soule leaue not our houses desolate cease not to fill vs by thy continuall presence with thy life and righteousnesse giue vs the true comfort of mind that before all worldlie things we may prefer the confession of thy truth euen as that reuerend old man Zacharie father of Iohn Baptist betweene the temple and the altar with his bloud as with a pretious burnt sacrifice did confesse thee to bee the Messias sent frō thine eternall Father Saue vs from bloud-shedding O Lord our Sauiour that we wrap not our selues in paines most intollerable wherwith thine enimies which haue defiled themselues with the innocent bloud of thy martyrs are oppressed And as thy glorious martyr and trustie Deacon of thy Church Steeuen when most heinous faults were laid vpon him as though he had proclaimed defiance both to God and his Church did continue constant in thy faith vsing a most excellent and effectuall forme of praier for his enimies thy persecutors conteining the summe of true doctrine sawe the heauens open and thee O Sonne of God standing on the right hand of thy Father to whom at the point of death he commended his soule so assist vs with thy grace that wee by his example may learne both to loue and praie for our enimies and that we feare not the peruerse opinions of the wicked world Be thou with vs in trouble according to thy promise open to vs the heauens shew vs thy liuelie countenance by thy good presence comfort our sorowfull minds make it knowne vnto vs that thine eternall Father is pacified through thee And finallie when our soules shall depart frō our bodies receiue them we hartilie beseech thee into thine almightie hands Giue grace that quietlie we may rest and fall asleepe till at the resurrection of mankind thou bringest thy Church and chosen to thy visible presence in the heauens where thou remainest and watching full tenderlie ouer thy flocke thou placest the same at the right hand of thy Father Amen 4. On Saint Iohn the Euangelists daie Being the Disciple whom Christ so deerlie loued and who at the resurrection of Christ was 22. yeeres old and liued in all eightie nine yeeres With the bread of life and vnderstanding shall the Lord féed him and giue him the water of wholsowe wisedome to drinke O Sonne of God full sixtie and seuen yeeres did thy beloued disciple Iohn among great miseries greeuous combats spread abroad thy Gospell in Asia the lesser where much idolatrous seruice curiositie and Greekish lightnesse was vsed He rested himselfe not onelie corporallie vpon thy bosome or shoulders being conuersant with thee in the earth and loued of thee as thy kinsman but spirituallie also drue from thy breast the spirit of wisdome replenishing his mind and hart with heauenlie light strength of faith and celestiall vertues He sawe the wofull destruction of his countrie and beheld the tragicall ouerthrowe of his nation He sawe the decaie of that Common-weale that was ordeined of God and of that temple which in all the world was the onelie temple of God He encountered with Ebion and Cerynthus most wretched heretikes which were the trumpets of Sathan to blowe abroad damnable opinions which as the first Cain by the prouocation of the diuell did contumeliously deale with the Sonne of God derided his promise And as afterward the nations by their monsterous multitude of feined gods did reiect Christ and his benefits so in a desperate boldnes did they set themselues against heauen and blasphemouslie detract from the Sonne of God his diuinitie But thanks be to thee O Sonne of God which art the substantiall image and word of the eternall Father thou hast by the doctrine and authoritie of this thy blessed Apostle Euangelist S. Iohn not onlie inlightned thy Church greatlie with the bright beames of thy heauenlie light of diuine knowledge but also by the testimonie of thy iudgement with horrible punishment cut off those blasphemers and heretikes that troubled thy Church and deliuered the truth of that article vnto vs. O preserue this light among vs henceforward that we may attaine thereby to thine euerlasting gifts and suffer vs not to bee wrapped anie more in idolatrous darknesse and superstition which is contrarie to thy glorie Mo enimies also Lord hath Sathan stirred vp to deface this thy truth and glorie euen the horrible power of the Turks which with brazen faces both blasphemouslie deale with thee and persecute thy Church confessing thy truth but suffer not O Sonne of God suffer not we beseech thee the true knowledge of thee by the power of Sathan and his ministers to be blotted out but keepe for thy selfe an holie seed among vs which against all the gates of hell may professe thee to be the eternal Sonne of the euerliuing God to whom the whole societie of Saints with one consent doth ascribe all power all knowledge all heauenlie vertues and willeth all praiers and supplications to bee directed to thee alone which art God alone Maintaine also among vs the true sense of the difference betweene humane righteousnesse and thine Grant that willinglie we may obeie thee leading vs vnto the exercises of true repentance vnto the crosse vnto troubles and vnto death where our will is truelie bound and obeieth altogither Giue grace likewise that we mooue not vnnecessarie strife through pride ambition and curiositie as did Samosatenus Arrius and manie mo but may followe thee and in our vocation both in teaching and learning and liuing may continue in the truth of doctrine that we may be found in that companie which thou louest intirelie and wilt prouide for vntill thou returne Amen 5. On the holie Innocents daie VVhich washed their garments in the bloud of the Lambe euen in their infancie by the crueltie of Herod The soules of the righteous are in the hands of God and there shall no torment touch them O Sonne of God in the time of thine humiliation euen from thy natiuitie and infancie trulie diddest thou taste the streame of mans miserie Poorlie thou wast borne naked and despised in
in a cleere and perfect light shall behold thee Amen 7. On the feast daie of the purification of Saint Marie the virgin and mother of Christ. The word became flesh and dwelt among vs Halleluiah O Eternall Father of thine onelie Sonne our Lord and Sauiour Christ which in the Common-wealth of Israell ordeined according to thy wisedome and adorned with excellent statutes necessarie for the state of mankind and signifieng secret and heauenlie things didst make diuers lawes concerning vncleannesse and the keeping of women with child and another for the first borne and that not onlie to put vs in mind of order in this life and thankefulnesse towards thy ministerie but also to teach that this our giltie and polluted nature like the foule and menstruous cloath of a woman is washed by the bloud of thy Sonne which is thy first borne thy substantiall image and the word sounding thy will whome from the heauens thou commandest to be harkened vnto Gouerne vs by thy first and onlie begotten Sonne Giue vs thy holie spirit that earnestlie we may bewaile our vncleannesse and pollusion aske helpe at thy mercifull hand be purified by the bloud of thy Sonne and be redeemed by him vnto true integritie and cleannesse which pleaseth thee that for his sake we may be adopted into thy children and find fauour in thine eies And as that good old man father Simeon notwithstanding that publikelie little or no talke was vsed of thy benefits by reason of the manifold sects then sproong vp and horrible tyrannie of Gouernours yet was confirmed by thy holie spirit in the truth and receiued a singular promise that he should see the Messias so by the same thy spirit kindle in vs faith whereby we may escape the palpable and curssed darkenesse of idolatrie which in the world welnigh is vsed And grant that we may apprehend thy Sonne who as this daie was presented in the Temple in substance of our flesh and in his armes depart in peace and be presented vnto thee with pure and cleane minds Assist vs that from our harts as did good father Simeon and holie Iacob we may firmelie keepe him among the feares of conscience and pangs of death Grant that he may be our light inflaming the darkenesse of our feeble minds with the brightnesse of his glorie Blot out all our doubtings heale the diseases of our soule and kindle that benefit and excellent light of true religion that being made followers in the spirituall societie of thy people Israell whose glorie is thy Sonne witnessing that among that people the promises and reuelations of the essence and will of the true God were made we may also come to thy glorie which our nature needeth and be adorned by thy Sonne with the heauenlie blessing of the forgiuenesse of our sinnes and receiuing righteousnesse and eternall life Amen 8. On Saint Matthias daie Thou hast exalted one chosen out of the people to publish thy lawe blessed be thy name O Lord. ALmightie God and most mercifull heauenlie Father who because the Scripture must needs haue beene fulfilled which the holie Ghost through the mouth of Dauid spake before of the Traitor Iudas who was guide to the Iewes that tooke Iesus thy deere Sonne our Lord and who now in reward of his iniquitie for betraieng thine innocent Sonne his Lord and Maister went hoong himselfe in the feeld of bloud called Acheldama till he burst asunder in the midst and all his guts and bowels gushed out didst afterward at the earnest praiers and petition of the rest of thy disciples choose thy faithfull seruant Matthias out of all the companie that followed thee or had their conuersation with thine Apostles to be of the number of thy twelue Apostles and ordeinedst him to be a witnesse with them of thy Sonnes resurrection as it is written in the 109. Psalme Let his habitation be void and no man be dwelling therein and his Bishoprike or charge let another take grant we beseech thee that thy Church being alwaie preserued from hirelings traitors and false Apostles may be ordered and guided by godlie faithfull and true pastors and ministers O Christ Sonne of God greatlie didst thou reioice at the gathering of the Church and high thanks didst thou yeeld to thy Father because he had chosen an holie seed out of mankind and suffered not their pains to be altogither frustrate We thanke thee also from our harts for reioicing at our well-doing and for repressing the diuell by thy power that some may be saued Gather heereafter we beseech thee from among vs a righteous people pleasing thee And although miserable and ouglie be the outward shew of thy Church and they which seeme to be the light of the world despise thy wisedome euen as neither Tiberius the Emperour with the Senate of Rome neither the Princes and Priests of the Iews would vouchsafe to heare thee wandering with thy Disciples Christian auditorie yet assist vs that these sinister iudgements of the world doo not dismaie vs but that we may bring our minds into a godlie captiuitie acknowledge thee by a true and liuelie faith to be the Sonne of thine eternall Father receiue the words from thee which from the bosome of thy Father vtterest the counsell concerning the restitution of man to whom all things both in heauen and earth are giuen for vs which are thy parteners Leade vs by thine hand by thy word and spirit before the presence of thy Father shew vs in a new light inwardlie in our soules the presence of thy Father which is pleased with vs for thy sake Abide thou among vs. Powre on vs by thy spirit the beginning of that light and righteousnes which appeareth in thee being the light of light lightning the darkenes of our nature Behold O good Samaritane and Physician of our soules to thee doo we lift vp our hands we are wounded we labour and are heauie laden thine enimie hath spoiled vs and wounded vs to the death We are so burthened with the weight and greeuousnes of sicknesse that our soule is comfortlesse readie to faint and fall into death and damnation Wherfore comfort our miserable soule with thy ioifull wine and oile with thine heauenlie and quickening balme raise vs from death vtter thy comfort to our harts and grant that our soules may find rest and gladnesse in thee Put on vs thy sweet yoke tame our flesh by thy spirit Raise vp in vs new motions and holie cogitations agreeable to thy will and word Thou art meeke in deed not desirous of reuengement Thou hast not throwne miserable man into euerlasting damnation as thou didst the diuels but hast suffered punishment for vs in thy bodie and praied for thine enimies Thou art meeke and lowlie in hart Thou flangest thy selfe vnder all angels and men thou tookest our fraile and fowle flesh vpon thee thou she wedst not the power of thy diuinitie in the time of thy passion but hidst if it might be thy diuinitie after a woonderfull
vnspeakable maner that thy humane nature might suffer and die Quench also in vs by thy spirit mercilesse fires of hatred and desire of reuenge which as worldlie men doo saie is sweeter than life it selfe with all the flames of pride Grant that acknowledging our filthines prostrate before thy face in true lowlinesse we may aske thine helpe being healed may perseuere in the imitating of thy perfect example Assist vs that while we liue in euerie trouble and temptation of ours we may drawe the water of comfort from thee which art the well of life and afterward enioie perfect ease and a ioifull sabboth and feastfull holidaies in the heauens at such time as thou wilt shew thy Father to thine elect where each shall behold the other face to face Amen 9. On the feast daie of the annuntiation of the blessed virgin Marie Shew vs thy mercie O Lord and grant vs thy saluation BY thy wisedome O eternall God are the times distinguished whereby we are certified of thy benefits and euerlasting blisse which after this life and destruction of the world is prepared for thine elect Now are there passed 5543 yeeres sith the creation of heauen and earth of thine Angels of all creatures By thy word thou madest man out of the slime of the earth thou breathedst on him the breth of life and inspiredst into him a soule adorned with perfect wisedome and righteousnesse Afterward thy Sonne did vtter a secret decree about the restoring of man fallen through sinne out of thy fauour into euerlasting death About the same time of the yeere was innocent Abel murdered which was a figure of the sacrifice to come whose bloud indeed crieth vnto thee Father in heauen and beggeth the forgiuenesse of sinnes to all beleeuers In the like time was Isaac carried to be offered and thou commandedst the people of Israell to keepe holie these daies in which thou wouldest haue thy benefits to bee spoken of Likewise on this solemne and ioifull daie of the Equinoctiall spring time which sithence is 1582 yeeres thy Sonne as the Angel Gabriel signified to Marie the virgin by the working of the holie Ghost coupled the humane nature to himselfe after a woonderfull and vnspeakable maner The same daie 1549 yeeres sithence thy Sonne redeemer of mankind in his weake and bloudie flesh hoong vpon the Crosse being the true Silo. And when the sunne going betweene Orion and the Pleiades leeseth his light he left his life through intollerable sorowe and torments And an old saieng it hath beene that about this time of the yeere our Lord and Sauiour Christ will returne in the clouds both to vanquish his enimies and to exalt his Church and chosen most gratiouslie vnto a new and eternall kingdome O Sonne of God stir vs vp vnto the consideration of those so excellent mysteries and worke thou so in our harts by thy grace that as we haue knowne thy holie incarnation by the message of an Angel so by thy crosse and passion we may be brought vnto the glorie of thy resurrection Through the protection and watch of thine Angel the holie families of chaste virgins and matrons remained safe and vnspotted among infinite dangers by thy spirit the truth was sealed in them that they could not be subdued by the errours of the Pharisies and Saduces Preserue likewise in this last age of the world some holie assemblies and suffer not the whole world before thy cōming againe to become blasphemers This shall be the wisedome of eternall life in which thou wilt open the causes why thou wouldest after this maner restore mankind and how God the word could couple our flesh to himselfe Assist vs that in this life we may learne the elements and in true faith be ioined through the holie spirit to thy bodie which thou tookest from the sanctified bodie of the sacred virgin And as thou cariest and liuest in the same flesh so make vs branches of the tree of life and fruitfull vine and replenish vs with like light life and glorie Be thou our Sauiour through thy merit and vertue Thine eternall Father hath placed thee in the throne of Dauid that thou maist be the head of the Church working all in all and the giuer of all good things and of the blessings promised to Dauid Thou reignest in this life by thy ministerie gathering to thy selfe an eternall Church and repressing thine enimies by thy mightie power Thou sittest exalted in light and incomprehensible glorie at the right hand of thy Father making alwaies intercession for vs vntill thou bring thy Church vnto thy selfe in glorie at the generail resurrection and shine in them visiblie and for euer O Sonne of God we are bone of thy bones and flesh of thy flesh Thou broughtest not thy flesh from heauen neither was the same borne of the substance of thy Father but truelie thou tookest thy flesh from the seed of Abraham out of the sanctified wombe of the holie and blessed virgin S. Marie This nature did the word couple to himselfe by an eternall couenant and adorneth the same with surpassing glorie which thou she wedst not in the time of thine humiliation Therefore in truth did blessed Marie beare God euen that person in which two natures that is to saie the word and flesh were vnited togither and that without anie confusion euen as the soule and bodie are coupled in vs men Wherefore we come vnto thee our Mediator God and man and respecting thy promise in a liuelie faith we beseech thee haue mercie vpon vs wash vs with thy bloud and make vs members of thy bodie and nature No man at anie time hath hated his owne flesh make vs to sticke vnto thee by the same spirit and to drawe from thee the iuice which may strengthen vs to eternall life Amen 10. On Saint Marks daie Thou hast made them princes in all lands therefore shall they remember thy name O Lord from one generation to another O Eternall omnipotent and euerliuing God Father of our Lord Iesus Christ which togither with the Sonne and the holie Ghost hast not onelie created the whole frame of this world with all things therein conteined but also appointed thy Sonne the word to be a Mediator for vs men and for our saluation we beseech thee most humblie from the bottome of our harts thou which art the good husbandman ingraffe vs in thy Sonne which is the true vine make vs branches of his bodie purge vs from the horrible corruption of our nature giue vs grace to continue in the vine that being deliuered from sinne we may bring foorth abundance of fruit to thy honour and glorie O Christ thou art the vine we are the branches through thy grace not of our owne goodnesse gratiouslie behold vs we beseech thee that euermore we may cleaue to thee For alas without thee what can we doo that good is Abide thou in vs that we may abide in thee giue vs of thy vertue let thy light shine in our
my soule Preserue my going out and my comming in that my feet may stand in the courts of Ierusalem I lift vp mine eies vnto thee that dwellest in the heauens Deliuer my soule out of the snare of the foulers least I put foorth mine hands vnto wickednesse Fill my mouth with laughter and my tongue with ioie replenish my longing with good things that thy beloued may find rest and blesse me out of Sion that I may see the welth of Ierusalem hauing escaped the cords of wickednesse Let thine eares attend vnto the voice of my praiers O Lord. Let not mine hart be hautie nor mine eies loftie but giue me grace to thinke humblie vntill I find a place for the Lord an habitation for the mightie God of Iacob There the Lord hath appointed the blessing and life for euer There will I lift vp mine hands to thy sanctuarie and praise thee who iudgest thy people and art pacified towards thy seruants O God of gods and Lord of lords now weeping and worshipping towards thine holie temple trie me and knowe me marke and consider my paths and leade me in thy waie for euer Deliuer me O Lord from the euill man and preserue me from the cruell man Let my praier be directed in thy sight as incense Bring my soule out of prison that I may praise thy name Heare my praier O Lord in thy righteousnesse and enter not into iudgement with thy seruant Heare me speedilie O Lord least my spirit faile me for thou God art my refuge and my deliuerer And forasmuch as thou art great and most woorthie to be praised and thy greatnesse is incomprehensible raise vp the crooked loose the shackeled and giue sight to the blind thou which dooest build vp Ierusalem And when thou hast made the barres of thy gates strong let me be coupled to thy children within As the Angels and all the powers in the kingdome of heauen doo praise thee there let me triumphing gloriouslie in the congregation of the Saints with the sounding Cimbals of my lips praise and magnifie thy name the which is holie and glorious and reigneth now and euerlastinglie Amen Shus-hanna hir Psalter conteining verie deuout praiers for remission of sinnes for the auoiding of all kind of sinne and for the leading of a godlie life O Almightie and euerliuing GOD thou God of al power before whose eies all things be naked and bare O Lord thou great and terrible God I saie that keepest couenant mercie with them that loue thee and doo thy commandements Let thine eares bee open that thou maist heare the praiers of thy seruant which I make before thee at this time and let them ascend vp before thy presence and be accepted in thy sight for Iesus Christs sake Haue mercie vpon me thy poore creature and worke of thine hands For I haue sinned and done wickedlie and haue offended thy Maiestie greeuouslie in that I haue gone backe and departed from all thy precepts and iudgements and haue not followed thy seruants the Prophets that spake vnto me in thy name but haue from daie to daie prouoked thy iust wrath and indignation against me O Lord I acknowledge and confesse vnto thee my manifold sinnes and wickednesse the which I haue vnrighteouslie most greeuouslie committed against thee in thought word and deed from my youth vp vntill this daie for the which I am now taught by thy word and grace to be hartilie sorie and doo vnfeinedlie repent purposing euermore through the assistance of thy grace to walke in a new life Desiring thee for the pretious bloud-shedding of Iesus Christ thy deere Sonne our Lord to haue mercie vpon me and forgiue me all those mine offences according to thy great mercie and promise which hast said At what time so euer a sinner dooth repent him of his sinne from the bottome of his hart I will put all his wickednesse out of my remembrance O Lord remember not therefore the multitude of my misdeeds I beseech thee but according to thy great mercies thinke vpon me Call to remembrance for Christs sake thy louing kindnesse and thy tender mercie the which hath euer beene of old Hide not thy face from me nor cast not off thy seruant in thy displeasure For thy mercies sake deliuer me from all my sinnes and make me not a scorne vnto the foolish Turne not awaie thy mercie from me but let thy most louing kindnesse and truth alwaie preserue me Helpe me for thy name sake and deliuer me in thy strength Heare my praier O Lord and consider the words of my mouth for my misdeeds preuaile against me O bee thou mercifull vnto my sinnes Let the sorowfull sighing of the prisoner come before thee O Lord and comfort the soule of thy seruant for vnto thee doo I flie for succour Satisfie me with thy mercie and that soone so shall I reioice and be glad in thee all the daies of my life Looke not extreamlie what is done amisse in me for I haue sinned against heauen and before thee and am no more woorthie to be called thy child yet Lord of thy great goodnesse powre downe some of the crums that fall from thy childrens table and make me as one of the least of them Reward me not according to my deseruings for then I must needs perish for vnto me perteineth nothing but open shame confusion and damnation but with thee there is mercie forgiuenesse and plentious redemption Therefore I come vnto thee O Lord thou louer of soules not hoping in mine owne righteousnesse but trusting onlie in the multitude of thy great mercies which thou hast made and laid foorth before the eies of all people offering saluation to the whole world and hast promised that whosoeuer he or she be of the whole generation of man that will receiue grace repent and turne vnfeignedlie from his sinnes shall haue free remission and forgiuenesse through Iesus Christ our Lord which is our onelie aduocate and mediator in whome our saluation lieth and of whome thou hast said This is my deere Sonne in whome I am well pleased and well pacified For this thy Sonnes sake by whome I am bold to come vnto thee which appeareth now in thy sight making continuall intercession for vs haue mercie vpon me O thou mightie God cleanse me from all my sinnes and doo awaie all mine iniquities Oh let me feele thy mercies towards me for I doo confesse my sinnes vnto thee O Lord and hide not mine vnrighteousnesse I doo acknowledge mine offences and accuse my selfe before thee of all my misdeeds Helpe me O God my sauiour for the glorie of thy name O deliuer me and forgiue me my sinnes for thy rich mercies sake Remember not the offences of my youth O Lord but thinke vpon thy great mercies and couenant made vnto me in Christ Iesus For thy tender mercie sake laie not my sinnes to my charge but forgiue that is past and giue me grace to amend my life to decline from sinne and incline to
Lord dailie with the true Manna of thy heauenlie word and with the grace of thy holie Sacraments Giue vs grace continuallie to read heare and meditate thy purposes iudgments promises and precepts not to the end we may curiouslie argue therof or arrogantlie presume thervpon but to frame our liues according to thy will that by keeping thy couenants we may be sure of thy promises and so make our election and vocation certaine through our constant faith vertuous and godlie liuing Seru. Amen Maister Confirme vs O Lord to the image of our Sauiour So lighten the lamps of our harts with the fire and burning flames of thy loue that no enuie rancor hatred or malice doo remaine in vs to quench it but that we may gladlie forgiue whatsoeuer wrong is or shall be either maliciouslie or ignorantlie done or said against vs. And here Lord in thy presence for thy Maiestie is euerie where we forgiue whatsoeuer hath beene by anie man or woman practised against vs beseeching thèe of thy goodnesse likewise to forgiue it And further for thy mercies sake and for our Sauiour Iesus Christs sake we beseech thee O deere Father to forgiue vs these horrible and damnable sinnes which we haue committed against thy Maiestie for which thou hast now iustlie brought the pestilence and plague vpon vs. Let the ceasing thereof we beseech thee certifie vs of thy mercie and remission Seru. Amen Maister We knowe O Lord the weakenesse of our selues and how readie we are to fall from thee Suffer not therfore Satan to shew his power and malice vpon vs. For we are not able to withstand his assalts Arme vs O Lord alwaies with thy grace and assist vs with thy holie spirit in all kinds of temptations Seruants Amen Maister Deliuer vs O deere father from all euils both bodilie and ghostlie Deliuer O Lord from trouble of conscience all that are snarled in their sins Deliuer O Lord from feare of persecution and tyrannie our brethren and sisters that are vnder the crosse for profession of thy word Deliuer O mercifull father those that for our sinnes and offences are alreadie tormented with the rage of pestilence Recouer those O Lord that are alreadie striken and saue the rest of my houshold and else-where from this greeuous infection Seruants Amen Maister Finallie O Lord God which for our innumerable sinnes dooest heere fatherlie correct vs to the end we should not feele the rigour of thy seueare iudgement in eternall condemnation we humblie submit our selues vnto thy grace and pitie beseeching thee for our Lord Iesus Christes sake that although we haue iustlie deserued this plague now laid vpon vs yet it may please thee in the multitude of thy mercies to withdrawe thy rod from vs. Grant O Lord true repentance of our sinnes which as it did in that good King Ezekias may deliuer vs from the plague laid vpon vs and cause those that be sicke heere in my house or otherwhere to recouer Or if thou haue determined to take a number of vs out of the miseries of this present euill world giue vs the comfort of thy holie spirit that may make vs glad and willing to come vnto thee Giue vs grace O Lord so to prepare our selues that we may be readie with the wise virgins to enter into life with our sauiour Christ whensoeuer it shall please thee to call vs. Seruants Amen Maister Grant this O deere father for Iesus Christes sake our onlie Mediator Aduocate Lord Redeemer and Sauiour to whome with thee and the holie Ghost be all honor and glorie world without end and in whose name we altogether with one hart and voice crie furthermore and praie vnto thee as he in his holie word hath taught vs saieng Maister and seruants altogether Our Father c. Other Psalmes and praiers to be said in the time of anie common plague sicknesse or other crosse and visitation of God by the Maister and Mistresse with their familie O Come let vs humble our selues fall downe before the Lord with reuerence and feare For he is the Lord our God and we are the people of his pasture and the sheepe of his hands Come therefore let vs turne againe vnto our Lord for he hath smitten vs and he shall heale vs. Let vs repent and turne from our wickednesse and our sinnes shall be forgiuen vs. Let vs turne and the Lord will turne from his heauie wrath and will pardon vs and we shall not perish For we knowledge our faults and our sinnes be euer before vs. We haue sore prouoked thine anger O Lord thy wrath is waxed hot and thy heauie displeasure is sore kindled against vs. Thou hast made vs heare of the noise of warres and hast troubled vs by the vexation of enimies Thou hast in thine indignation striken vs with greeuous sicknes and by and by we haue fallen as leaues beaten downe with a vehement wind Indeede we acknowledge that all punishments are lesse than our deseruings but yet of thy mercie Lord correct vs to amendment and plague vs not to our destruction For thy hand is not shortened that thou canst not helpe neither is thy goodnesse abated that thou wilt not heare Thou hast promised that afore we crie thou wilt heare vs and whilest we yet speake thou wilt haue mercie vpon vs. For none that trust in thee shall be confounded neither anie that call vpon thee shall be despised For thou art the onlie Lord who woundest and dooest heale againe who killest and reuiuest bringest euen to hell and bringest barke againe Our father 's hoped in thee they trusted in thee and thou didst deliuer them They called vpon thee and were helped they put their trust in thee and were not confounded O Lord rebuke vs not in thine indignation neither chasten vs in thy heauie displeasure Oh remember not the sinnes and offences of our youth but according to thy mercie thinke vpon vs O Lord for thy goodnesse Haue mercie vpon vs O Lord for we are weake O Lord heale vs for our bones are vexed And now in the vexation of our spirits and the anguish of our soules we remember thee and we crie vnto thee heare Lord and haue mercie For thine owne sake for thy holie name sake incline thine eare and heare O mercifull Lord. For we doo not powre out our praiers before thy face trusting in our owne righteousnesse but in thy great and manifold mercies Wash vs throughlie from our wickednesse and cleanse vs from our sinnes Turne thy face from our sinnes and put out all our misdeeds Make vs cleane harts O God and renew a right spirit within vs. Helpe vs O God of our saluation for the glorie of thy name O deliuer vs and be mercifull vnto our sinnes for thy name sake So we that be thy people and sheepe of thy pasture shall giue thee thanks for euer and will alwaies bee shewing foorth thy praise from generation to generation Glorie be to the Father c. As it was in the